Comfort One Another

 

 

Job 2:11 Now when Job's three friends heard of all this adversity that had come upon him, each one came from his own place-Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite. For they had made an appointment together to come and mourn with him, and to comfort him. 12 And when they raised their eyes from afar, and did not recognize him, they lifted their voices and wept; and each one tore his robe and sprinkled dust on his head toward heaven. 13 So they sat down with him on the ground seven days and seven nights, and no one spoke a word to him, for they saw that his grief was very great.

 

Job’s friends didn’t get much right as they lectured Job through his crisis, but they sure started off on the right foot! Let’s look at the early actions when word reached them about their friend Job and the adversity that had come upon him!

 

They broke out their smart phones and texted each other and said, let’s drop what we’re doing and go to Job so we can mourn with him and perhaps comfort him. This call to comfort others in their affliction is a call to all followers of Christ. 2Co 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 5 For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ.

 

Responding to the call, the friends approach Job and are taken aback by his physical appearance. He looked even worse than they expected and immediately they wept, tore their clothing, sprinkled ashes on their heads as a sign of grief for their friend.

 

Perhaps you’ve experienced this as you visited a friend in the hospital. Let’s face it, people don’t look so good when they’re in intensive care in the hospital, but you don’t start out by saying, “You look awful!”

Job’s friends, rather than saying something stupid, just sat next to him and didn’t say a word! We could learn from that. Sometimes we get uncomfortable in the silence and in an effort to make conversation we open up our mouths and insert foot. Whereas, what the friend really needs is your presence alone.

 

Any words spoken should be the Word of God as you read passages of comfort to your friend, or say a prayer for them, or perhaps sing a hymn to them.

 

Of course in this day and age of Covid 19, hospital visits are not allowed. So how do you comfort your friend now?

 

Having spent a month in the Covid unit at an area hospital my friends came to me via my smartphone. They prayed with me and encouraged me through text messages and I can’t tell you what they all meant to me! Just knowing that people are lifting you up to the God of the universe and pleading on your behalf causes your spirit to soar and helps strengthen your resolve.

 

Thank  you for those prayers and words of encouragement. I’m home now, but still in a battle to breathe on my own without the aid of an oxygen tank and I covet your prayers for a full recovery. Thank you all for being like Job’s friends to me, coming alongside with comfort and encouragement through this battle. It’s so good to know, I am not alone!