Praising in the Middle of Pain

Pain has a way of shaking our confidence, but Job 1:21 reminds us that worship can rise even from the hardest seasons. When everything fell apart, Job chose praise—a response rooted in the unshakable truth that God’s presence can’t be taken from us. His story shows us that even when loss, confusion, or unanswered questions threaten to overwhelm, God remains steady, powerful, and worthy. Sometimes the deeper gift in suffering is discovering who God truly is when everything else fades. Highlights Job praised God after unimaginable loss—because God Himself was still his greatest treasure. Emotional pain can still lead to worship when we trust God’s character. Physical suffering pushed Job into deeper questions and honest wrestling. God responded not with explanations but with a revelation of His majesty. Seeing who God is often brings more peace than understanding why hardship happens. Surrender grows when we remember God’s purposes can’t be thwarted. Pain can become the pathway to a closer, more intimate knowledge of God. Gift Inspiration: Crosswalk's Holiday Gift Guide Looking for a meaningful way to celebrate the season? Check out our Holiday Gift Guide—from beautifully illustrated Bibles and devotionals to novels, greeting cards, and picture books, there’s something for everyone on your list. Wrap up stories for loved ones, tuck a book into your own nightstand, and join us in celebrating the wonder of giving this Christmas! Full Transcript Below: Praising in the Middle of Pain By Cindi McMenamin Bible Reading: The Lord gave me what I had, and the Lord has taken it away.Praise the name of the Lord! (Job 1:21 NLT) Job said these words after literally losing everything he had. Can you imagine praising God, as Job did, after unimaginable loss? The story of Job in the Bible is not a parable or a fable. Job was a real man, husband, father, and farmer. In fact, he was a present-day millionaire, in a sense. The Bible says he was the “greatest” (richest) man in the east. Then everything he had– and I mean everything—was gone in a day. In spite of this obvious and apparent shock of suddenly losing everything—his livestock, his livelihood, his investments, and all ten of his children—Job’s response was worship of his Creator and the One who had allowed him to lose it all. In a humble, God-honoring statement that truly defined this man’s character, Job responded not with questions, complaints, or curses, but with praise: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, And naked I shall return there. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away. Blessed be the name of the LORD” (verses 20-21). How could Job have responded that way? I imagine you and I would react quite differently after losing just half as much as Job did. We might say things like: “God, why?” “God, I’ve served You and yet You let this happen.” “God, are You even there, anymore?” Experiencing loss upon loss can have that kind of effect on us. It makes us question everything we ever knew. Yet, Job could praise God in his pain because, in his wisdom, he realized the one thing that mattered most to him—his God—was something he would never lose. Job realized God was still there, God was still good, and God was still worthy of his praise. Job saw God as his greatest possession. Job’s response, though, wasn’t quite as stellar when he lost his health. When his livelihood and loved ones were taken from him, the emotional pain gave way to praise. But when his body became wracked with pain, the confusion, disillusionment, and responses that would be more like yours and mine set in. That is when Job began to question. That is when Job’s friends began to offer their opinions on why God was allowing his suffering. That is when Job met his darkest, most painful time—in the confusion of not understanding why God wasn’t letting up. And then, we get the most beautiful description in all of Scripture of Who our Creator is and all that He is capable of. In chapters 38-41, God takes our breath away when He answers Job out of his “storm”—the biggest storm God knew any man or woman on earth would ever have to endure. And God’s big reveal? His all-coveted answer to the age-old question why? It didn’t come. When God finally spoke, He didn’t solve the age-old mystery of why bad things happen to good people. Rather, His words began with: “Why do you talk so much when you know so little?” (Job 38:2 CEV). God was, in a sense, saying: “Who are you, Job, to question Me?” And for four long chapters, God doesn’t shine a penlight of understanding on Job’s circumstances, but projects a spotlight on who the God of the Universe really is, and all He’s capable of. After God’s discourse, Job is the one who is silent. After hearing God’s description of how He rules and sustains all creation, Job is speechless. The only thing he can finally utter is a ...