“Listen carefully to my words, and let this be your consolation. Bear with me, and I will speak; then after I have spoken, mock on.” Job 21:2-3

The biblical character of Job helps us who are suffering to see themselves, God, and the world around them. Job was a righteous man. Then, Job was afflicted, lost everything that he loved. Questions of evil naturally arose; is Job’s suffering his own fault? Is it God’s fault? What now will become of Job?

As many of us are, Job was surrounded by good friends. These good friends were present for Job and offered support. Unfortunately, they, like most people in life’s unique situations, didn’t know what to say. Job did not receive any consolation from his friends. More than one mother or father who has suffered through the loss of a child has encountered horrible words from loving mouths.

This short word from the Book of Job offers nothing more than the authorization to feel and question what is going on around you. It also gives the one who is suffering permission to say to his or her comforter, “Thanks for your words, but, no thanks.” It is hard for friends and loved ones to know what to say for the simple reason that they don’t know the sufferings of another. Sometimes the best support we can give one another is just to sit silently and be present.

There is no complete answer to the question of evil, the wondering of why bad things happen to people, especially people who are “good.” We rest, along with Job, in the God who speaks out of the whirlwind and into our life. It is this God who promises that though our present suffering is real, it is not the end.