Job has suffered terribly and he has complained to God about his lot. It’s appropriate to do so. It is what every child will do with a father. In the Psalms, complaint is an important expression of faith. If you are in grief, pain, confusion, if you are disappointed, if your hopes have been dashed, then, by all means, open your heart to God and let out your complaint. Tell him how you feel. But once you bring your complaint to God remember that, in doing so, you started a conversation, and once you have done your complaining it is God’s turn to speak. And in the same way as you brought your complaint to him, it is then his turn to bring his complaint to you. When you have asked all your questions it is then God’s turn to ask you some questions. When God speaks you get more than information. You get perspective. God will remind you of who you are. You are not God, you are human. You are loved and cherished for sure, that will also come through, but you will be reminded of who is in charge and it isn’t you. When God answers he doesn’t give answers but overshadows our questions with his presence. He is God and he is greater than our finite capacities can begin to fathom. God is fearfully and wonderfully great and the awareness of this single primary reality is the beginning of all wisdom and knowledge: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding” (Proverbs 9:10).
Ask God to draw near to you and wait on him for a while.
Read Job 40
