September 20, 2026

JOB: FINDING HOPE WHEN BAD THINGS HAPPEN

September 20, 2026

Senior Pastor Jonathan Falwell

Our second week of the new series, JOB, has been insightful. No one would want to go through the suffering Job incurred (at the hand of Satan), but our sympathy is with him every page. We must keep in mind that Job, nor his friends, had no idea why everything in his life was tragically taken away, nor why his health was suddenly afflicted beyond measure. His friends seemed sympathetic—but they assumed sin had caused such chaos. Do we have friends like that, who see every trial as God punishing us for a hidden sin? Or are we that type of friend who burdens a pal, while in a trial, with guilt that it may be a sinful lifestyle? Today, we will learn how to handle situations that create pain, turning them into times when we can grow closer to God as He shows His love, care, and faithfulness as trials come and go.

Focal Passages: Job 3, 4, and 5.

The Reality of Our Worst Day:

  • Read Job 3:1-8. What has happened to Job from the opening of chapter 1 to the end of chapter 2? What was his response upon hearing of the unimaginable destruction brought on his family? What did the friends say while they sat with him for one week?
  • Did Job blame God for the tragedies that came to him? What reason did he give his wife for not blaming God? Did that make the pain any less? Why did he not ‘charge God’ with wrong? Would you have been able to worship in the immediate days after the deaths of all your children?
  • In the opening of chapter 3, for today, what is Job focusing on in verses 3-8? If you put yourself in Job’s place, what would you have been feeling? Did he turn suicidal?
  • Can a circumstance like this cause you to feel discouragement this deep? Can anyone share a time when you were at your lowest? What changed? Had Job lost all hope?
  • Is it okay to feel pain or grief? Why? How do you deal with those feelings when you are overwhelmed by them? How does living in a broken world affect your life?
  • Read 3:10-19. What did Job curse next? Did he curse God? (He is amazingly close to it, though). How does he end this monologue in verse 26?

The Reality of Our Worst Thoughts:

  • Read Job 4:1-8. Job’s friend, Eliphaz, could not restrain himself. What does he open his rebuttal with in vv. 4-8? How does he sound? Does he seem rather condescending?
  • Does Eliphaz seem to be trying to convince Job that he had sinned (vs. 8)? Job has had over a week to think (with no talking). What do you imagine his mind was like by now? Is it likely he was examining his life to see if he could find unconfessed sin? Could it be that he wonders if he has somehow blown it with God and has no value; or even perhaps that God has messed up and is no longer trustworthy? Is anything too far out to be considered? If it were you, could you quiet your mind?
  • Read John 9:2-3. Why do people often assume all pain is the result of sin in someone’s life?
  • Do you camp out on the worst thoughts you can imagine? Perhaps it would be more correct to ask if you consider a worst-case scenario, then build it up in your mind as the most likely answer to a dilemma? Does it usually turn out to be that way? Is that kind of worry sin?
  • If you had to write down the most obvious reasons why God would bring tragedy like Job’s into your life, what all would you consider? How would you categorize them? What if it really is Satan—at times?

The Reality of Our Great God:

  • Read Job 5:8-27. As you read these verses, did you see that Eliphaz had some truths throughout his comments, yet he also said much that was incorrect? Discuss those comments for a few moments, looking for either. If you write down the truths, you will have enough to generate a great time of praise. What are some examples worthy of praising God in these verses?
  • There have been many emotions in today’s chapters that are prevalent in today’s world; give examples. Do you have a wealth of verses that enable you to comfort someone in deep distress? Can you be compassionate if someone is hurting or facing great tragedy? How can you prepare yourself to do this?

Five Important Truths for Life:

  1. Life is not easy!
  2. Life will break you if you are not prepared.
  3. Being prepared has nothing to do with you or your abilities.
  4. Being prepared comes from our trust in God.
  5. God will never let you down!

Close:

We all know someone who has lost a child, a spouse, or a loved one. Usually, it is not important to say much—most people appreciate the fact that you care. But for those who need a word of encouragement, there are many short verses that would fill the void you may have in knowing what to say. Look up Scriptures you would want to hear in a bad situation, write them down, and memorize them. It is not a daunting task, since you generally remember your grocery list, the inventory in your fridge, family telephone numbers, and so on. It may be that God will use you if you are prepared!

Sandy Day

September 20, 2026

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