Listen

After my skin has been torn apart this way— then from my flesh I’ll see God, whom I’ll see myself— my eyes see, and not a stranger’s.

Job 19:26-27a

Think

Job lost all his riches and wealth. His children died in a devastating accident, and he became so ill he began to feel it would be better if he had died. Job felt alone in the world, and he could not tell if God even cared about happened to him. In this part of the story, Job is holding on for a chance to face God and find out why his life turned out the way it did.

Although it is not unusual for us to be told difficulty, suffering, and tragedy are simply punishment for sin, the story of Job challenges this idea. Job was not convinced he had been treated fairly by the divine and wanted his day in court. Experiencing hard things is a part of being human. Our faith does not promise us if you believe in God, you will be protected from illness, grief, or crisis. How can we hold on to hope in times like these?

Kamal Hassan

Pray

Oh God, incline your ear to me and listen when I cry out in pain and anguish.

Hear my case and take up my cause when I have suffered unjustly.

Teach me how to use hard times as teachable moments that help me to gain hard-won wisdom for the living of these days.

Amen.

Go

Walk humbly with your God

On paths not rutted from overuse

Walk toward people not of your kind

Walk with Jesus

And you will never walk alone