There is something ancient and hauntingly beautiful about the story of Job. A man devoted to God, upright and blameless, suddenly finds himself stripped of everything—his children, his wealth, his health, his dignity. All this not because he sinned, but because he was chosen. In a realm unseen, God had allowed Satan to test Job’s integrity, to prove that faith does not hinge on prosperity.
But Job never hears that part of the story. He only experiences the silence of heaven and the crushing weight of grief.
As coaches, we walk with people through their own bewildering chapters. Times when meaning disappears, when everything that once made sense unravels. The story of Job invites us to reflect on what it means to hold space, to ask wisely, and to help others see clearly—without assuming we know what’s going on beneath the surface.
Seeing Beyond What Is Seen
Job’s friends begin well. They come to sit with him in silence for seven days—mourning without words. But soon, silence gives way to speeches. And the harm begins.
Eliphaz draws from mystical experience and suggests, “Consider now: Who, being innocent, has ever perished? Where were the upright ever destroyed?” (Job 4:7, NIV). Bildad is blunt, hinting that Job did not do enough for himself and his children’s sins (Job 8:4-6, NIV). This is in direct contrast with Job’s custom of offering sacrifices for his children “in case” they sinned (Job 1:5). Zophar, with harsh certainty, confronts Job and even blames him for not being devoted to God (Job 11); also in direct contrast with God’s commendation of him (Job 1:8, 2:3) .
They speak with conviction, but without compassion. With certainty, but without understanding.
As coaches, we are called to a higher standard. The ICF Core Competency “Embodying a Coaching Mindset” reminds us to remain open to the influence of context and culture on both the client and ourselves. This includes recognising the wider systems—family, social norms, generational patterns, cultural scripts, even spiritual forces—that may shape a client’s reality in ways we cannot fully grasp.
A good coach is slow to judge and quick to notice. They understand that not everything can be seen, and not everything needs to be solved. Their strength lies in curiosity, not certainty.
The cry to be heard
What Job needed most was not answers. Not correction. Not confrontation.
What he needed was presence—his friends’ silence, their nearness, their willingness to simply be with him in his pain. But they couldn’t hold their tongues. And eventually, neither could he.
The ache for witness bursts forth when he pleads, “Oh, that I had someone to hear me!” (Job 31:35a, NIV). Not to explain him. Not to fix him. But to hear him.
Sometimes, that is what our clients long for too. To be seen, not assessed. To be heard, not handled.
In those tender spaces, the most powerful gift we can offer is our presence. Not performance. Not perspective. Just presence.
The ICF Core Competency Cultivating Trust and Safety reminds us to honour the client’s identity, experience, and emotional world—even when it shows up raw, unresolved, or unsure. A good coach doesn’t flinch from the chaos. They don’t rush to tidy what needs time.
Coaching, at its core, is not about offering clarity on demand. It is about holding space until clarity, gently and honestly, finds its way in.
The Power of Questions
Eventually, God responds. But not with explanations. Not with reasons. Instead, He answers with questions.
“Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation?” (Job 38:4, NIV)
“Have you journeyed to the springs of the sea or walked in the recesses of the deep?” (Job 38:16, NIV)
“Can you pull in Leviathan with a fishhook or tie down its tongue with a rope?” (Job 41:1, NIV)
These are not answers. They are invitations—rhetorical questions that awaken awe, perspective, and humility. They are not meant to accuse, but to evoke. They do not condemn. They reframe.
This is what coaching questions do at their best. A good coach doesn’t give advice disguised as a question. They ask with purpose and precision—to help the client see differently, think deeper, and reconnect with their own wisdom.
As coaches, we are not divine. Being mortal, we cannot speak with the authority that God can. But as coaches, we are entrusted with the sacred task of evoking awareness. Evoking Awareness (Competency 7) is about asking powerful questions that help the client consider different angles, challenge assumptions, and discover insights they didn’t see before.
This is Evoking Awareness in its truest form. As in the story, insight rarely comes instantly. Job does not respond right away. He listens. Processes. Reflects. And only later says, “Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know.” (Job 42:3, NIV). His words mirror God’s earlier speech (See Job 38:2, 42:3, NIV)—a sign that something has shifted inside him.
A good coach trusts the process and give their client the space they require because they know that real transformation takes time.
From Hearing to Seeing
At the heart of the story lies a transformative line: “My ears had heard of you, but now my eyes have seen you.” (Job 42:5, NIV)
Job did not physically see God through the entire process. However, Job did see God with the eyes of his heart. Through presence, through questions, through reflection, something changed. The veil lifted. He didn’t get all the answers—but he saw enough to get the closure he require.
Coaching often walks this same terrain. Coaching at its best helps remove those same veils. Not by providing conclusions, but by creating a space where the client can see more clearly—who they are, what matters, and where to go next.
Coaching Without Assumptions
In the end, God rebukes the friends saying, “I am angry with you and your two friends, because you have not spoken the truth about me, as my servant Job has.” (Job 42:7, NIV). Ironically, Job—who had protested, questioned, and lamented—was the one who had spoken rightly. Because he spoke from the heart. He dared to wrestle honestly.
Great coaching makes room for that kind of honesty. It doesn’t demand that clients be composed or agreeable. It honours their voice. It listens without judgment. And it helps them discover clarity—not by imposing it, but by walking with them toward it.
Final Thoughts
The Book of Job reminds us that the coaching space is sacred ground. A place not for performance, but for presence. Not for answers, but for awareness. Not for rushing to fix, but for gently holding space until truth reveals itself.
What Job needed was not explanation, but witness. Not advice, but attention. And through silence, questioning, and deep processing, he came to see—not just differently, but more truthfully.
“My ears had heard of you, but now my eyes have seen you.” (Job 42:5, NIV)
A good coach holds space for that kind of seeing.
For mystery. For transformation. For the slow but sacred journey from confusion to clarity.
Whether you are a coach or someone being coached, may you experience this kind of presence—one that listens deeply, asks wisely, and honours the unseen.
Hi! If you are interested to explore more about coaching or you have a burning issue you’d like to resolve, look no further! I’m currently offering a free coaching session to anyone who needs a safe space to think things through, gain clarity, or take the next step forward. Whether you’re facing a personal challenge, making a big decision, or simply want to be heard, I’m here to journey with you.
Sim Chen Xing 
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