There was once a man named Job who was considered by god to be a good man and for his undying loyalty he was rewarded with a rich life. One day the devil and god decided to play a game with Job. He figured that by inflicting every atrocity on him that he would eventually break and curse his god, for when man is prosperous and life is good it is easy to honor his god, but when all comforts are removed he would fall. Satan took away his family, his crops, inflicted disease on his body, and god allowed it. But with every evil that befell him Job refused to curse god, even when his own wife, watching him suffer with disease, begged her husband to do so. Three of Job’s best friends accused him of being a sinner, for this misfortune would not transpire if he were truly a godly man. In the end, Satan lost, for Job remained strong and god showered him with even more riches than before.
Job asked god what he had done, why he was still alive, why he had to suffer. He was plagued with doubt, but continued to refuse to curse his god. If Job did not deserve punishment, then why was he punished? Why did six million people die during the Holocaust? Why are innocent children taken from us? The question of why the innocent have to suffer may always remain a mystery, but perhaps we can find some solace from our faith.
Hindus believe that suffering is an illusion – our true existence lies in the invisible world of the sprits. Buddhists believe that suffering is a result of clinging to material objects. If we eliminate our dependence on the physical existence only then will we find true peace. Islam teaches its followers that suffering is a test by god to reveal our worthiness, very similar to the Christian story of Job. Anyone can be tested regardless of his or her sins or good deeds. There is no evidence that Job truly existed but his story can reveal to us that with patience and strength we will survive the darkest of times.
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