Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundations?

Whenever I am going through a tough time I often turn to the Book of Job. It tends to put my difficulties into perspective, but it also gives me faith and wisdom.

When Job was suffering, he lost sight of God, but realized that God had not lost sight of him (Job 23:8-10). This is the kind of trust we need in painful seasons.

However, we also need wisdom. This is where God’s questions to Job were so vital.

During his season of loss and hurt, Job questioned everything, as we all do. Why do good people suffer? Why has God not answered my prayers? Why is life so unfair?

Many of these questions are what C.S. Lewis called ‘nonsense questions’ (“Is yellow square or round”). Even if God did give us an answer, we probably wouldn’t understand.

So, God answers our questions with more, often unanswerable, questions, as He did with Job. He started with, “Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation”? (Job 38:4).

These questions caused Job to think, speak, and act correctly. He realized he didn’t know what he was talking about, he repented of his lack of trust, and then worshipped God despite his circumstances.

Are you wise enough to say, “I don’t know”?

Are you prepared to trust God regardless of the pain?

Do you praise God at all times?

Robert