I do not mean this Lesson to be a blanket approval of what the three men said. Because they were wrong! God agrees … “Ye have not spoken of me the thing which is right, like my servant Job.” Job 42:7-8

(Like any broken clock, which is right twice a day, these men spoke some nuggets of truth. But in the wrong way, with a skewed application to Job. In the wrong spirit!)

But they did this one thing quite admirably. They were right there “by his side.” By Job’s side!

“Now when Job’s three friends heard of all this evil that was come upon him, they came every one from his own place; Eliphaz the Temanite, and Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite: for they had made an appointment together to come to mourn with him and to comfort him. And when they lifted up their eyes afar off, and knew him not, they lifted up their voice, and wept; and they rent every one his mantle, and sprinkled dust upon their heads toward heaven. So they SAT DOWN WITH HIM upon the ground SEVEN DAYS AND SEVEN NIGHTS, and NONE SPAKE A WORD unto him: for they saw that his grief was very great.” Quoting Job 2:11-13.

I once heard (or read) about a wise old Pastor counseling his younger Preacher Boys. Talking to them about helping their Church people in times of great stress or sadness or grief or any other crisis. He iterated, “We do not always know exactly what to say at times like those. And maybe we should not talk a lot anyway. JUST BE THERE. SIT WITH THEM. CRY WITH THEM. PRAY WITH THEM. LOVE THEM. GO GET THEM A CUP OF COFFEE.” You get the idea!

And that’s exactly what Job’s three “friends” did for him. It would have been much better as far as comforting Job is concerned, had they never spoken a word!

They sat down with him, wept with him.

For a full week!

Sympathizing with him in his grief.

Do you know someone enduring a similar, ponderous situation today? Be there for them! IN some way let them know you care …

This is one of the greatest dangers of this Pandemic the world is currently facing. Loved ones many times are not allowed to “be there” with their relatives. And though such isolation is medically necessary (?) … that’s still bad news for any patient!

Hint … in today’s culture, even an e-mail or a short text or a phone call can, in a sense, represent your desire to “be there” when your friend is suffering.

Wow!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

A Lesson we can all practice!

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