Job 23:1 says, Then Job answered and said,  Job was still stating his basic claim, and that was that he didn't know why God was punishing him and that he didn't feel that God was listening to him.   We need to learn to put our faith in God, even if the world seems to be collapsing around us.  Verse two states, Even to day is my complaint bitter: my stroke is heavier than my groaning.  I believe that Job was claiming that due to his suffering, which he felt God was the direct cause of, that he had a right to be bitter toward God.  We can never allow what is going on in our lives to determine how we feel about God.  Even in the worst of suffering, we must still praise God for His forgiveness and know that we are safe in His arms for evermore.  In verse three Job declares, Oh that I knew where I might find him! that I might come even to his seat!  I believe that Job thought that since his condition was not improving that God was not listening to him.  If we are suffering in life, we need to simply pray that God's will shall be done in our lives.  When we pray honestly under the leadership of the Holy Spirit, we can be certain that God hears our prayers.  If we are sincerely praying that God's will be done, we can rest assured that it will be, even if we don't understand how God is accomplishing this.  Verse four states, I would order my cause before him, and fill my mouth with arguments.  Job said that if God would listen, then he could present his case to God.  Job should have understood that God was already listening to him.  We need to pray with that understanding.  If we are followers of Christ, not only will God always hear our prayers, but He will often hear our prayers when we do not even know what to pray.  Job said that he could present his arguments to God, but he nor we can prove ourselves worthy of God's forgiveness, no matter how long we argue.  Verse five says, I would know the words which he would answer me, and understand what he would say unto me.  We cannot presume, as Job seemed to, that we know the right words to say to God in all situations, and we certainly cannot assume to know what God's answer is going to be.  We need to simply put our trust in God's everlasting security.  Even if we feel that we are being unjustly punished by God, we need to remember that God is never unjust in His dealing with people.   In verse six Job says, Will he plead against me with his great power? No; but he would put strength in me.  I believe that Job may have been pointing out that God, unlike his friends, would not argue that Job had done something to deserve his current suffering.  Job said that if he could present his case to God that God would strengthen him, unlike Job's friends who were condemning him.  God is indeed our source of strength, and He will never abandon us.  Verse seven states, There the righteous might dispute with him; so should I be delivered for ever from my judge.  We need to realize that even if the righteous could dispute with God as Job said, that we are told by God that there is none who is righteous.  We cannot claim deliverance from the penalty of sin based on our own righteousness, but must accept it based on God's gift of salvation through Christ. Verse eight says, Behold, I go forward, but he is not there; and backward, but I cannot perceive him: Job said that no matter if which direction he went, forward or backward, he could not find God.  Job continues in verse nine, On the left hand, where he doth work, but I cannot behold him: he hideth himself on the right hand, that I cannot see him:  Job was looking every where for an answer from God, but believed that God was not to be found.  The problem was not with God not being with Job, but with Job equating his condition as God's punishment for reasons that Job did not understand.  As followers of Christ, if we feel God has abandoned us or is treating us unfairly, we need to correct our thinking.  God never acts unfairly.   Verse ten states, But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.  Job stated that God knew that he had remained true to God, and that even as he was being tried by suffering, he would be purified like gold.  Our suffering for our faith should only purify that faith.  Verse eleven says,  My foot hath held his steps, his way have I kept, and not declined.  Job said that he had not departed from the way of God, no matter what his friends might say.  This should be our testimony about our faith in God.  In verse twelve Job declares, Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.  Job said that God's word, that spiritual feeding, was more important to him than food itself.  We need that same understanding today.  God's word and will come above everything else.  Verse thirteen says, But he is in one mind, and who can turn him? and what his soul desireth, even that he doeth.  Job was correct that if God has truly decided to do something that no one can force Him to change His mind, but we are not the ones to determine when that has happened.  If everything is already determined by God, then prayer would be foolish, in my opinion.  Verse fourteen states, For he performeth the thing that is appointed for me: and many such things are with him.  Job said that God was going to do with him whatever He wanted to do, but Job misunderstood why God was allowing these things to happen.  Verse fifteen says, Therefore am I troubled at his presence: when I consider, I am afraid of him.  I believe that Job's fear of God came because he was not truly trusting in God in his current state.  If we really know God, we will have no reason to fear Him if we are doing our best to live by faith in Christ.  Verse sixteen states, For God maketh my heart soft, and the Almighty troubleth me:  Job was troubled because he didn't understand why these things were happening to him.  Verse seventeen states, Because I was not cut off before the darkness, neither hath he covered the darkness from my face.  Job felt that he had access to God before his suffering started, but that now he was left in darkness.  We can know beyond a doubt that God will never leave His people in darkness, and that our physical condition will never dictate our spiritual relationship with God.