When we don't know what to say
To him who is afflicted, kindness should be shown by his friend. — Job 6:14
Roy Clark and his father sat in the family car in the funeral home parking lot for several minutes. As a teenager, he wasn’t sure how to respond when his dad put his head in his hands and moaned, “I don’t know what to say!”
A friend from their church had been in a car accident. She had survived, but her three daughters had all died when a truck hit their vehicle. What could they say to their friend at a time like this?
In the Bible we are told that during Job’s time of grieving, his three friends came to mourn with him and to comfort him. For the first 7 days they sat and wept with him because he was in deep sorrow (Job 2:11-13). “No one spoke a word to him, for they saw that his grief was very great” (v. 13). Their presence alone was a comfort to him.
But then they began to lecture. They told Job he must have sinned and that God was punishing him (4:7-9).
When Job was finally able to respond, he told his friends what he needed from them. He asked for reasons to continue hoping (6:11), for kindness (v. 14), and for words that did not presume guilt (vv. 29-30).
Remembering the story of Job and his friends may help us when we don’t know what to say. — Anne Cetas
Lord, give me sensitivity
To people in their grief and pain,
To weep with them and show Your love
In ways mere words cannot attain. — Sper
READ: Job 6:1-14
When someone’s grieving — listen, don’t lecture.
The Bible in one week:
• Isaiah 53-55
• 2 Thessalonians 1
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