Why can't life be like it was when _____________ ?

In Job 28-29 that is the question Job is asking. He is recalling his healthy/wealthy past and wondering why on earth he lost it all.

He looks for the days "when I was in my prime ..." (Job 29:4a) and when "the friendship of God was in my tent ..." (4b). He looks at when in response to him the 'young men saw me and withdrew'; 'the aged rose up and stood'; 'the nobles refrained from talking'; 'the voices of princes were hushed' ... 'because I delivered the poor who cried, and the orphan who had no helper'.

In asking why everything went wrong while Job is seeking to do everything right he does a couple of things. Job still acknowledges that God is the source of wisdom and knows the way to it (28:20-28). And Job at least seeks to remain in a healthy fear of God. The fear of God in Scripture is not being scared to death of God. Rather, it is just respecting, and most of all, loving God. True love continues to love those we are upset with (such as God). And Job writes with this in mind ...

"Truly the fear of the LORD, that is wisdom;

and to depart from evil is understanding"

(Job 28:28)

Ahhh, here understanding doesn't have to be comprehending it all as much as it is just seeking to depart from evil ... which is ultimately seeking to follow after God. For me, that makes tragedy 'understanding' a bit easier.