Comforting Words
Job's friends did not speak words that brought him comfort in his pain and grief. He listened to them, but he told them that he would have spoken differently, if it was him speaking to a friend. He would have spoken words of comfort.(Job 16:5) It is easy to say the wrong things when we have a friend who is having problems. We should focus in on comforting them.
The word comfort literally means "with strength." When we comfort someone we are strengthening them, we are not just feeling sorry for them and expressing our sadness for them. We should show them we feel with them, but if all we do is relate to them emotionally, we will not help them. We need to share with them truths that will bring strength or power to overcome their problem. That is a challenge, but it is possible when we let the Spirit guide us in what to say.
God is our Hope. God is able. God is love. God is All-wise. God is never taken by surprise. God always does the right thing, even if we don't understand. How much better would it have been if Job's friends would have shared words of comfort like these? We can share verses from God'w Word and these truths in a loving compassionate way, and we can be the source of strength for our friends to hear what God wants them to hear to be built up.
Oh yeah, let me add this. If we can share how God helped us in a similar instance that brings strength, too. Our testimony is powerful in times of trouble. If people are doubting God, we give them a personal reason to trust Him.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Job 19-21.
The word comfort literally means "with strength." When we comfort someone we are strengthening them, we are not just feeling sorry for them and expressing our sadness for them. We should show them we feel with them, but if all we do is relate to them emotionally, we will not help them. We need to share with them truths that will bring strength or power to overcome their problem. That is a challenge, but it is possible when we let the Spirit guide us in what to say.
God is our Hope. God is able. God is love. God is All-wise. God is never taken by surprise. God always does the right thing, even if we don't understand. How much better would it have been if Job's friends would have shared words of comfort like these? We can share verses from God'w Word and these truths in a loving compassionate way, and we can be the source of strength for our friends to hear what God wants them to hear to be built up.
Oh yeah, let me add this. If we can share how God helped us in a similar instance that brings strength, too. Our testimony is powerful in times of trouble. If people are doubting God, we give them a personal reason to trust Him.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Job 19-21.