Lament and Spiritual Resilience in the Book of Job: A Trauma Theological Reading of Human Awareness of God and the Possibilities of Healing

Abstract

Trauma is a universal reality that disrupts the psychological, social, and spiritual dimensions of human life. The central problem of this study lies in the lack of research integrating contemporary trauma psychology with the theological narrative of the Book of Job within the framework of trauma theology. Previous studies have mostly emphasized Job’s perseverance of faith or holistic models of healing, but have not explicitly combined psychological analysis with biblical-theological horizons. This research employed a qualitative library study with theological hermeneutics, examining Job’s narrative in dialogue with trauma theories (Caruth, Herman, Janoff-Bulman, Rambo). The findings reveal that Job’s experiences losing children, wealth, health, and social dignity constitute multidimensional trauma that shattered his fundamental assumptions about God. Yet, through lament, protest, and dialogue with God, Job demonstrated authentic spiritual resilience. The integration of trauma psychology and biblical theology shows that true healing is not merely clinical recovery, but a transformation of consciousness: suffering is integrated into a renewed awareness of God and deeper meaning of faith. Thus, this study concludes that the Book of Job serves as a paradigm of trauma theology, where extreme suffering becomes a pathway to resilience and healing.