Much of the book of Job is taken up with people either claiming to speak for God or questioning God. But in the end God speaks for himself, and he is the one who will do the questioning. Perhaps this is the main lesson. The wisdom of creation--all the complexity and grandeur of the world--belongs to God. Job ends with his hand over his mouth, speaking no more of things too wonderful for him to know. Now he is to listen.

Job's story does not give us the answers we expected. It does not leave us saying, 'Ah-ha! Now I understand everything.' The mystery of suffering is great: it defies our simple answers, our acute speculations, and even the raw cry from deep inside. There are, in fact, many things in this life that are well over our heads. Mysteries remain.

But we are not entirely abandoned to the void. Sometimes responding to God is the best--and only--answer to our suffering.

We were created to converse with God about the deepest riddles of life. While he may not answer our questions directly, he promises to pierce the mystery by offering his own Presence in our time of deepest hurt.

If only we would ask.

If only we would listen.

Read more of Job online here.