Devotional
Sometimes the people around us during our darkest moments can make our suffering even more unbearable. Job discovered this painful truth when his three friends arrived to comfort him. Instead of offering support, they spent over thirty chapters insisting that his suffering must be the result of hidden sin. Their ‘comfort’ became an additional burden, adding shame and self-doubt to his already overwhelming pain. We’ve all experienced this in some form. Maybe it was the friend who suggested your illness was due to lack of faith, or the family member who implied your job loss was somehow deserved. Perhaps it was the well-meaning person who offered simplistic explanations for your complex grief. These responses, though often well-intentioned, can leave us feeling more isolated and misunderstood than before. Job’s friends made the mistake of assuming they understood God’s ways perfectly. They had a neat theological system that demanded suffering always result from personal sin. When Job’s experience didn’t fit their formula, they chose to defend their theology rather than comfort their friend. This is a warning for all of us – our desire to make sense of suffering can sometimes override our call to simply love those who are hurting. The most powerful ministry often comes not through explanations but through presence. Sometimes the greatest gift we can offer someone in pain is to sit with them in silence, to weep with those who weep, and to resist the urge to fix what only God can heal.
Bible Verse
‘Then Job replied: “I have heard many things like these; you are miserable comforters, all of you!”‘ – Job 16:1-2
Reflection Question
Think of a time when someone’s words made your suffering worse – how can this experience help you become a better comforter to others?
Quote
“Sometimes our greatest struggle is not what we’re going through, but who’s around us while we’re going through it.”
Prayer
God, when others are suffering, help me to offer Your love rather than my explanations. Give me wisdom to know when to speak and when to simply be present. Make me a source of comfort, not additional burden. Amen.