Job's Friends

[Dreamer]

Job's friends had been talking to him for a long time. They were sure that his misfortunes had come from sin in Job's heart. They were sure that God must be punishing him. Job said, "Even if He kills me, I will hope in Him, I will still defend my ways before Him." Job 13:15

Job rejected the explanations of his friends. He told them to be quiet and to let him speak without interruption (13:13). He expressed his desire to appeal directly to God, who alone was capable of vindicating him.

Just as words can hurt, they can also help.

 

[Dreamer]

Probverbs 16:24 says, "Pleasant words are a honeycomb; sweet to the taste and health to the body." Hurting people can benefit from words pleasantly orchestrated into symphonies of encouragement. The next time you visit a friend who is hurting, or when you are hurting and receive a visit from a friend, remember these simple do's and don'ts:

Do not...
-be afraid to remain silent.
-underestimate the healing value of your presence.
-fall into the trap of thinking that you must say something.
-try to explain what you do not understand.
-criticize or judge

Do...
-affirm your love and express your compassion.
-stay as long as necessary.
-listen more than you talk.
-understand your limitations.
-ask God to help you look beyond your friend's faults and shortcomings into his or her needs.