“One should be kind to a fainting friend, but you accuse me without any fear of the Almighty” (Job 6:14 NLT).
Job’s friends came to share his grief, but ended up adding to his despair. They came to sit with Job after a series of terrible events had occurred. A hurricane had collapsed his oldest son’s house, killing all of Job’s children. Raiding parties had attacked his property and stolen his flocks and cattle, killing his servants. Job’s body was covered with painful boils and his wife was so overcome with grief, that she told him to curse God and die.
Job’s friends sat silently with him for a time, but when Job began to ask questions of God, they began to argue with him. Perhaps they thought God needed their defense, so they attempted to correct Job’s theology. Perhaps they were surprised that Job wasn’t repentant, because surely he must’ve sinned greatly to deserve such suffering, so they accused him of transgression. Whatever their motivation, Job’s “friends” were no longer acting as his comforters, but as his critics.
Do you know of someone who is afflicted by grief or sickness? Would you be a friend to them? If so, be kind, not judgmental. Listen to them without correction. Let them air out their grievances without interruption. Pray for them and offer them support. Now is not the time to correct their theology. Better to admit that you don’t know what they’re going through, nor do you know what God is doing. Be humble and kind to those who despair. Let the Spirit do His work. Ask the Lord when you should speak and what you should say. And please, no clichés. They don’t help. Better still, be still and be present.
PRAYER: Dear Father, teach us to be kind to the despairing. Help us to comfort them with the comfort You have given us in our trouble. Help us to be quick to listen and slow to speak. And when we do speak, give us Your words to say. In Jesus’ name, amen.