"Consider now, Who, being innocent, has ever perished?" (Job 4:7).

This question was asked by the friend of a man in the grip of awful suffering. It was intended to help the sufferer understand his pain, but it failed in its purpose. The question was ill-timed and ill-conceived. That fact is, much suffering is beyond human ability to comprehend. The innocent are struck down; they do perish. We ought to tread softly, and speak with much reserve when we approach sufferers.