In Job 11, Job's friend, Zophar speaks up and says that Job is suffering because of his evil ways (11:13-14). Job's response is classic. Job says twice that he is "not inferior" to his friends (12:3; 13:2) and that his friends are lying (13:4). Job is not being proud but argues that his way is righteous and blameless and that implicitly suffering can come to those who are living for God (12:4). Job says in 12:13 that "to God belong wisdom and power; counsel and understanding are his." The point is we may suffer but we do not have to understand the reason for our suffering. If you are trying to figure it all out, you may just want to pause and say as the apostle Paul said in Romans 11:33, "How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!" God's ways are often beyond our limited capacity to understand fully. It would all do us well if we could have the resolve Job had and be able to say alongside him, "Though he slay me, yet I will hope in Him (13:15)."
As Christ-followers, we all have a special conversion story. Paul's conversion story is unusual, however, in that Christ appears to him (Acts 9:5). Not only that, but everyone knew who Saul was and how intense his hatred of believers was. Remember it was just two chapters ago that Stephen's garments were laid at Saul's feet after he was stoned to death (Acts 7:58). Take a moment to remember who you were before Christ came into your life and what He has done with you since that moment of conversion!
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