Daily devotion – listening in times of sorrow
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.
When we are hurting, when sorrow or grief has wrapped its dark cloak around us, we value the company of a friend who will just listen. But when someone we know is hurting, going through a storm, we are often tempted to do everything and anything but listen!
We may at times chatter away and give unwanted advice to them, instead of listening to them share their burden with us.
But remember, often the best support you can give in such times is to listen quietly when a friend has a problem, letting them share their feelings and assuring them that we care, even if we do not have the answers.
Ecclesiastes 3:1,7. “There is a time for everything….a time to be silent and a time to speak.”
When friends are hurting, ask God to help you be an encourager and a burden bearer.
Job’s friends did provide Job great comfort…..until they opened their mouths.