Job 23 - asking God to explain himself

I haven't read Job in a while and although I remember the story of the tragedy that overcame him, and I had remembered that the rest of the book is a conversation that Job is having with his 3 friends. What i had forgotten is that the jist of the conversation is the friends saying "Job, this is happening because of your sin. Confess it so that God will have mercy on you." and Job responds "No, I have been righteous before God."

In Job 23 Job responds to his friends in verses 3-5 "If only I knew where to find him; if only I could go to his dwelling! I would state my case before him and fill my mouth with arguments. I would find out what he would answer me, and consider what he would say." I know I have felt like this before. I have felt like I don't understand why things are happening and if only I could talk to God about it. For instance, my friend Brenda. She is suffering from an unknown disease and is dying at a very young age. She is so sweet and loves God, why would something like this happen to her?

I think it's okay to wish you could talk it out with God, I think it's okay to wonder what he has planned. I just am trusting that it isn't for nothing. Maybe a doctor that wouldn't be reached by anyone else, maybe the lengthy e-mail list of people that care about her and hear her witness through adversity, maybe.....

Maybe it's not for us to know. I know it's easy for me to say this as an outside person looking in, it's easy for me to trust him when it's not happening to me. God give me faith when it is me.