Trusting God in suffering and struggles

One of the deepest questions of human existence is why suffering occurs, especially to those who are righteous and blameless. The story of Job invites us into that mystery, confronting us with the age-old question: Where is God when we suffer? Job's story is about a man whose faith and character were tested in unimaginable ways, and yet, he remained steadfast in his trust in God. This morning, I invite you to reflect on what we can learn from Job's experience of suffering, integrity, and faith.

The opening verse introduces Job as a man of deep integrity—blameless and upright. He feared God and actively avoided evil. In many ways, Job was the model of righteousness, the kind of person we might expect God to shield from harm. But, as we see in this story, righteousness does not exempt anyone from the trials and tribulations of life. From the beginning, Job's story challenges the notion that good things always happen to good people. His life shows us that suffering does not always correlate directly to our actions. Job was not being punished for sin—his suffering had a different purpose, a divine mystery that we may not fully comprehend. In Job 2:1-6, we find a scene that adds to the complexity of Job’s suffering. The narrative shifts to the heavenly court, where Satan (the accuser) presents himself before God. Satan’s challenge is that Job’s faithfulness is conditional. He suggests that if Job’s health is taken away, he will curse God. In the Jewish perspective here in the book of Job, Satan is some kind of district attorney that wants to prosecute Job before God. What is striking about this passage is that God allows Satan to test Job. This challenges our view of suffering even further. God does not directly cause Job’s afflictions, but He allows them, setting boundaries on what Satan can do. This raises the difficult question: Why does God allow suffering? While we may never fully understand the “why,” this story teaches us that God is sovereign even in our pain. He sets limits to what we can endure and promises His presence amid our trials. Next, we see the brutal reality of Job’s suffering. His health is attacked, and he is covered in painful sores from head to toe. The image of Job sitting in ashes, scraping himself with broken pottery, paints a vivid picture of both physical and emotional agony. Job, once a man of great wealth and stature, is now reduced to nothing, isolated and broken. Yet, in his brokenness, Job refuses to curse God. His suffering does not destroy his integrity. How often, when we face pain or loss, do we question God’s goodness? It is natural to ask why, but Job shows us that our faith need not crumble under the weight of suffering. Instead, suffering can become a crucible in which our faith is tested and purified. In verse 9, Job’s wife offers a sharp and emotional response: “Are you still maintaining your integrity? Curse God and die!” Her words reflect the frustration and hopelessness that can accompany immense suffering. Perhaps she represents a voice within us all, a part of us that wants to give up when life becomes unbearable.
 
But Job’s response is profound. He rebukes her and says, “Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?” Job recognizes that faith is not about only receiving blessings from God. True faith is tested in adversity, in those moments when life does not make sense, and we are tempted to abandon our trust in God. In Mark 10, the Pharisees approach Jesus with a divorce question. They want to test Him, asking, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?” Jesus responds by pointing them back to God’s original intention for marriage: a sacred union of faithfulness. He says, “What God has joined together, let no one separate.” Jesus' words about marriage challenge the prevailing cultural norms that saw relationships as disposable. He reminds us that marriage is not just a legal contract, but a covenant of faithfulness—a reflection of God's covenant with His people. It is also a reflection of the protection of women that Jesus gives the Pharisees. He is saying that just sending someone away is not enough. Only a legal divorce can end in a marriage from a Jewish perspective. Jesus tells us that there will be hardship but that it can be overcome with God's help. Just as Job’s suffering tested his faithfulness to God, the struggles that arise in relationships test our commitment to one another.

Marriage, like faith, requires perseverance. There will be moments of joy and moments of difficulty. And just as Job endured suffering without abandoning his faith, Jesus calls us to remain faithful in our relationships, even when it is hard. The stories of Job and Jesus’ teachings on marriage share a profound connection: they both highlight the importance of faithfulness in the face of challenges. Whether it is the faithfulness we are called to maintain in our relationship with God through suffering or the faithfulness required in our relationships with others, both are reflections of God's unwavering commitment to us. In Job, we see a man who remains faithful to God, even when it seems like everything has been taken from him. In Mark 10, Jesus calls us to reflect that same faithfulness in our human relationships—especially in marriage, where we are asked to honor the sacred bond that God has created. Faithfulness, whether to God or others, is not always easy. It often requires sacrifice. For Job, it meant enduring unimaginable pain without turning away from God. For married couples, it means staying committed through both the highs and lows, honoring the vows made before God. After teaching about marriage, Jesus shifts His attention to children. The disciples try to turn the children away, but Jesus welcomes them, saying, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.” What do children represent in this passage? They represent trust, dependence, and a pure-hearted approach to God. Jesus invites us to come to God with childlike faith, a faith that trusts without needing all the answers. Job, in his suffering, exemplifies this kind of faith. Though he did not understand why he was suffering, he trusted God. He approached God not with arrogance, but with humility, much like a child.
In our own lives, we are called to embody this same trust and dependence on God. Whether in times of suffering like Job or in our relationships with others, we are invited to approach God with the faith of a child—trusting that He is with us and that His plans for us are good, even when we cannot see the full picture. So, what do we learn from these two passages? First that Faithfulness is the foundation of our relationship with God. Job’s suffering teaches us that we are called to trust God, not only in times of blessing but also in times of hardship. Even when life doesn’t make sense, we are invited to remain faithful. Second that Faithfulness is also the foundation of our human relationships. Jesus’ teachings on marriage remind us that our relationships are sacred and require the same kind of commitment and perseverance that Job showed in his faith. Marriage, like faith, is not always easy, but it is a covenant that reflects God’s love and faithfulness toward us. And last but not least Trusting in God like children. In both suffering and relationships, we are called to approach God with childlike faith—trusting, depending on Him, and knowing that He holds us in His hands.As we leave here today, let us remember the examples of faithfulness we find in Job and Jesus' teachings. In times of suffering, like Job, may we hold fast to our faith in God, trusting that He is with us in the midst of the storm. And in our relationships, may we reflect the same faithfulness, honoring the commitments we have made before God and one another. Let us approach God with the trust and simplicity of a child, knowing that He welcomes us with open arms, even when life is difficult. Amen.