When it comes to pain & suffering, we need to get concrete & specific.

Bottom Line

If we want to know what God is like, we need to look at Jesus Christ.

Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I shall return there. 
The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away, blessed be the name of the Lord.
Job 1:21

4 Lessons from the Book of Job That Help Us With Human Suffering:

1. Spiritual warfare is real
2. Simple explanations fall short
3. The reason(s) behind human suffering are found in the complexity of creation — not God’s character
4. God prefers honesty over right theology

Consider now: Who, being innocent, has ever perished?  
Where were the upright ever destroyed?
As I have observed, those who plow evil and those who sow trouble reap it. At the breath of God they perish.”
Job 4:7-9

I cry out to you, God, but you do not answer;
I stand up, but your merely look at me.
You turn on me ruthlessly;
With the might of your hand you attack me.
Job 30:20-21

After the Lord had said these things to Job, he said to Eliphaz the Temanite, “I am angry with you and your two friends, because you have not spoken of me what is right, as my servant Job has.” 
So now take seven bulls and seven rams and go to my servant Job and sacrifice a burnt offering for yourselves. My servant Job will pray for you, and I will accept his prayer and not deal with you according to your folly.
Job 42:7-8

Action Steps

Prayer: Create some space to reflect on the following:

• Does my view of God match the person of Jesus?
• What would it look like for you to be totally honest with God?
• How have you been present to others experiencing hardship?

Practice:

• If you are going through something hard, spend time this week receiving Jesus’ comfort.
• If someone you know is going through something hard, be present to them with love.  

Recommended Resources:

• Is God to Blame? by Greg Boyd
• This Too Shall Last by KJ Ramsey