Pastor Hana’s Weekly Reflection

Confidence can become a barrier to wisdom.

Have you ever been in a conversation where someone was so sure they were right – no listening, no curiosity, just confidence? And the more they talked, the clearer it became that they didn’t actually understand what was going on. That’s the moment Job’s story hits in chapters 22-32.

By this point in the book, Job’s friends have said everything they think needs to be said. They’re confident in their explanations, certain that their theology explains Job’s suffering. But their wisdom has a flaw – it leaves no room for mystery, compassion, or humility. Their certainty becomes pride.

Then Elihu speaks. He challenges both Job and his friends by reminding them that wisdom doesn’t come from age, experience, or strong opinions. True understanding comes from God. Human wisdom, no matter how polished, has limits.

This is the danger of pride in faith: when we assume we fully understand God’s ways, we stop listening to God and to others. Job’s friends spoke about God, but they stopped listening for Him.

Job 22-32 reminds us that humility is essential to real wisdom. God is not a problem to be solved, and suffering is not always something to be explained. Sometimes, the wisest response is to admit our limits and make space for God to speak.

Where might pride (confidence in your own understanding) be preventing you from listening to God or others more closely right now?