I have always heard of the “patience of Job”, but I never thought of Job as being a patient man. After his troubles come upon him, he is constantly demanding an audience with God. He wants some explanations for why he is being battered by so much misery. He wants some answers, and he wants them now.

Job did not think of himself as a patient man. He asked, “Is my complaint directed to a human being? Why should I not be impatient?” (Job 21:4).

Perhaps the main lesson of Job is not that we should be patient. Perhaps it is to teach us that God is willing to listen to our questions as long as they come from a perspective of having faith and trust in him, and as long as we persevere in seeking his face.