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October 18, 2026

This Week In Job series artwork

Responding to Lies in Difficult Times

Job 15-21 · Week 6

But I know thatmy Redeemer lives, and that end He will stand on the dust.

Job 19:25

The Big
Question

How do we answer the lies we hear when we are suffering?

Start get started.

If Job were like a boxing match: chapters 3-14 are round one, and chapter 15 begins round two. The friends are angrier now because Job rejected their retribution theology and kept his innocence.

Suffering makes us more vulnerable to lies about ourselves and about God. Job shows us how to answer each lie with truth.

Move dig deeper.

  1. Job 15-17

    Lie: you no longer fear God

    Each friend opens by mocking Job, then paints a portrait of the wicked, implying it is him. Eliphaz accuses Job of undermining the fear of God. Our accuser can whisper the same lies, but Job answers that his suffering is under God's control and appeals to his Advocate in heaven.

  2. Job 18-19

    Lie: you must not know God

    Bildad says the wicked are those who do not know God. Job answers with the same word: 'But I know my Redeemer lives.' He expects to see God in his flesh even after death. For us, Christ is that Redeemer, and because He is risen, we will rise too (Romans 6:5).

  3. Job 20-21

    Lie: God has abandoned you

    Zophar implies God's anger is Job's inheritance, so God has abandoned him. Job answers that we cannot know all of God's ways. We do know His promise: nothing in all creation can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:38-39).

Enduring Truth

We may not know all of God's ways, but we know His promises:nothing can separate usfrom the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Cross Church · Responding to Lies in Difficult Times · Job 15-21 Page 1 of 2

Responding to Lies in Difficult Times

Group Discussion & Response

Job 15-21

Talk talk it over.

  1. Which of the three lies (you no longer fear God, you must not know God, God has abandoned you) are you most tempted to believe in hard seasons?

  2. Sometimes we can be our own worst friend when we are down. What lies do we tell ourselves, and how can we answer them with biblical truth?

  3. Job says, 'But I know my Redeemer lives,' using the same word Bildad used against him. How does knowing Christ is risen change the way you face suffering?

  4. We do not know why God allows what He allows, but we know His promises. Which promise of Scripture helps you most when you feel abandoned?

Do respond this week.

  1. Pray

    Name the lie you are tempted to believe about your suffering, and appeal to your Advocate in heaven to replace it with His truth.

  2. Praise

    Praise Christ, your living Redeemer, because He is risen and you will rise too.

  3. Preach

    Remind yourself this week that your suffering is under God's control and that nothing can separate you from His love.

  4. Practice

    When you catch yourself believing a lie, answer it out loud with a verse like Romans 8:38-39, and share it with a friend.

Close in Prayer

Father, we thank You that our suffering is under Your control and that You have not abandoned us. Help us to recognize the lies we hear, from others and from ourselves, and to answer them with Your truth. Thank You that our Redeemer lives, that Christ is risen, and that nothing can separate us from Your love. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Notes & Reflection