Questions are the best we can muster sometimes--especially in the face of deep, personal pain. We ask them of ourselves and our friends. We ask God. And many times there seem to be no answers, only more questions. .

There was a man--rich and blameless and true--whose life went from good to bad, and then bad to worse. First he lost all he owned, then nearly all he loved, and finally his own health. Four friends came to engage him in conversation. These friends counseled him to tell the truth, to own up to the evil he must have done to bring on such suffering. But being blameless, there was no evil to confess. Being true, he would not lie. And being in pain, he had questions for God.

This ancient man's story reflects our own pain, our own suffering. He asks our questions, the penetrating 'Whys' we ask today. Job refused easy, untrue answers and simply held to his questions. He held and asked--determined to see the heart of this mystery of his suffering. He waited until God finally spoke.

Read this ancient book in your own pain. Or read it aloud for a suffering friend. Start a conversation. Ask your questions. Hold your ground. And wait.

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