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Verse:Job was a man who lived in Uz. He was honest inside and out, a man of his word, who was totally devoted to God and hated evil with a passion. —Job 1:1.
The Message One night I couldn’t get to sleep, so I listened to CDs from the Word of Promise Audio Bible. I specifically listened to the book of Job.
Job was a wealthy man who seemed to have everything going for him: family, the rest of his community, and widely spread business connections.
He was also very dedicated to God and prayed every day.
Then his life started to fall apart. First, he suffered the destruction of his livestock and servants. Next, he lost his children in a storm.
Finally, he lost his health. His grieving wife told him to give up on both life and God. She thought there was no hope left for him.
Job poured out his frustration, anger, pain, and anxiety to both God and his friends. He did not understand why God had allowed this to happen because he had tried to live a righteous life. What Job didn’t seem to consider was that beyond what was seen, a battle had been raging ever since sin entered the Garden of Eden —the battle between Satan and God, evil and good. We, too, have experienced the pain of being caught up in this conflict, which continues to this day.
Job’s cries of anguish, along with those of many others down through the ages, were joined by the cry of Jesus on the cross of Calvary: “Why, God, have You forsaken Me?” When Satan hurls his attacks at us, we often wonder where God is. He seems so far away. In truth, though, He is close to us during our trials.
When Job exhausted all his arguments with his “friends” and emptied himself, then God spoke to him. Job listened, speechless at first.
Sometimes loss renders us speechless as it initially did Job’s friends. When they came to visit him, they sat with him in silence.
Sometimes we don’t know what to say when someone we know is suffering. Sadly, we sometimes don’t even go to visit because we are afraid of saying the wrong thing. We may not understand the suffering a friend or loved one is going through, yet just being there for that person may bring comfort.
The best thing to do is to ask God how we should respond.
He will never fail to give us the courage to speak His words of comfort; however, listening to their pain first may be a big help.
Finally, reminding the sufferer that he or she is not alone, because of God’s love and presence, may be the greatest comfort we can offer.
Peggy Curtice Harris