“Oh, that I could know where to find Him, and come to where He dwells.” (Job 23:3). This expression echoes from the depths of a longing soul, from a broken heart, but still believes that God can and wants to hear. Job sues not because of pride, but because of a wound that has not yet healed. He longs for divine judgment, not to sue, but rather to understand and seek God’s voice behind the storm of his suffering. He looks for God in all directions, but does not find Him. But Job does not give up. It is precisely in that silence that he expresses his strongest belief, that God knows the way of his life and if He tests him, then Job will come out as gold. Job believes that even though he cannot see God, God still sees and knows him.

This is where we learn that true faith is not a faith that only shines under the light of comfort, but a faith that remains steadfast even in the darkness of ignorance and silence. Job does not deny his frustration and disappointment. He asks and at the same time holds the belief that God still knows, is still just, and in time will reveal the truth.

Bible friends, God’s hiddenness is not a sign of His absence. When prayers seem unanswered and the heavens seem closed, it may be that those are the moments when God is at work—in the silence and depth of His mystery. Like gold refined in the fire, so our faith is tested and purified in uncertainty. Job did not find God wherever he looked, but he remained confident, “He knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold” (v. 10). So the question for us is, Will we continue to trust God, to continue to hope, and to continue to seek Him even when life feels dark and the future seems uncertain? May we continue to walk in faith, confident that His hand is guiding us, even when our eyes cannot see. For God is never far away, He is only molding us to be purer, stronger, and more faithful.