THE PRAYER THAT knew when to be quiet

Do you ever get that sinking feeling that you should just stop talking?

Job experienced that too, during the most humbling conversation of his life—with God Himself.

Job had lost everything—his children, servants, money, position, reputation and health. Grief-stricken and covered in painful sores, Job clung to the one thing he had left: God. There in the ashes of his ravaged life, Job worshipped.

But that didn’t mean he didn’t ask why. Why had God allowed such bitter suffering with no relief? In humility, he brought his complaints before God, “Even if you kill me, I will hope in You; but I’m not going to stop arguing my case!”

Eventually, God answered. He didn’t give Job an explanation of his situation; He gave him Himself. He came close to Job in a way that only suffering people can understand. But God had an argument for Job as well: “Do you really think you should be trying to correct Almighty God?”

“I put my hand over my mouth,” Job replied. “I have nothing left to say.” Job knew that God was good, trustworthy and worthy of worship whether or not he understood why God allowed his suffering.

When life is deeply painful and unfair, it’s okay to ask “Why?”

He may not give us all the answers we want; but God is God. He is good, fair and worthy of worship, even on our darkest days.