Spiritual Care: Where Human Wisdom Ends: Reflections from Science and the Book of Job

Blog | Cancer Coaching Reflections & Resources

When Job finally hears from God after deep loss, silence, and unanswered questions, he is met not with explanations—but with awe.

“Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding.”
— Job 38:4

It’s not the kind of response we might expect from a loving God. But perhaps it’s exactly what Job—and all of us—most need. In that whirlwind moment, Job is reminded that behind his suffering is a God whose wisdom spans beyond the stars. A God who speaks not to belittle, but to open our eyes.

And surprisingly, some of the greatest minds in science have found themselves at the same threshold: the edge of understanding, humbled by mystery.

Science and Scripture: An Unexpected Harmony

We often think of science as the pursuit of answers, while faith embraces mystery. But the two are not enemies. In fact, the deeper scientists look into the universe, the more they echo what Job was shown in the storm—that we are not the designers of this world, only its witnesses. A truth that highlight that faith and science both begin with humility—an acknowledgment that we are not the ultimate authors of life or order.

Here’s what some of the most respected scientists have said:

Isaac Newton

"I do not know what I may appear to the world, but to myself I seem to have been only like a boy playing on the seashore... whilst the great ocean of truth lay all undiscovered before me."

Newton discovered the laws of gravity and motion, but even he stood in awe of the “ocean of truth” he could not grasp.

Albert Einstein

"The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and all science."

"Science without religion is lame, religion without science is blind."

Einstein’s scientific genius didn’t lessen his wonder—it increased it. For him, the mystery behind the universe wasn’t a problem to solve, but an invitation to revere.

Francis Collins

"The God of the Bible is also the God of the genome. He can be worshiped in the cathedral or in the laboratory."

Collins, who led the Human Genome Project, describes faith and science as complementary ways of exploring the same sacred order.

Werner Heisenberg

"The first gulp from the glass of natural sciences will turn you into an atheist, but at the bottom of the glass, God is waiting for you."

Heisenberg, a pioneer in quantum mechanics, discovered that the closer we come to nature’s core, the more we encounter the limits of certainty—and the presence of mystery.

What This Means for Us

Why include these voices in a blog written for people affected by cancer?

Because you, too, may be standing at the edge of what can be known.
You’ve probably asked questions that no doctor or diagnosis can fully answer.
You may feel like Job—frustrated, afraid, desperate for meaning.

Job 38, and the reflections of these scientists, remind us that it’s okay not to know everything.
It’s okay to stand in awe.
And it’s okay to rest in the knowledge that someone greater than us does understand—even when we don’t.

“I had heard of You by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees You.”
— Job 42:5

This is Job’s final realization—not just that God exists, but that He is near, knowable, and trustworthy, even in mystery.

May that be our realization too.
Whether in the lab, in scripture, or in the storm of illness—He is there.

A Note on Writing

This reflection was crafted with the assistance of AI, then carefully reviewed, edited, and personalized to reflect my voice and experience. My intent in using this tool is not to replace the human touch, but to strengthen it—allowing me to bring together research, scripture, and lived experience in a way that is both thoughtful and accessible.