The Greatest Gift

The Greatest Gift

Bible: Job 2

Reading

They sat on the ground with him for seven days and seven nights. No one said
a word to him, because they saw how great his suffering was (V.13).

Job’s three friends didn’t do a great job of caring for their friend. They were pretty insensitive and blamed him for his own suffering. But, when they first arrived at Job’s side, they sat in silence with him for a whole week before they said a single word. As it turned out, their silence was the best thing they offered Job; their words weren’t much good! My natural instinct is to hide away from people who are in pain. Who can know whether they want to talk about it or not? Do they want to be cheered up or left alone? What good can I possibly do? I recently heard one Christian guy talk about going to a funeral. By mistake he ended up in the wrong one. It was for an old man, and his widow was the only person there. She seemed so lonely that the man decided to stay for the funeral. He even drove with her to the cemetery.

At the end of the graveside service, the guy finally admitted to the woman that he had not known her husband. “I thought as much,” said the widow. “But it doesn’t really matter. You’ll never, ever, know what this means to me.” Most often those who are suffering remember the quiet person who simply comes alongside. Someone who was there when needed, who listened, who didn’t keep glancing at a watch, who took time to understand. In short, someone who made sure they were available and turned up.

OFTEN, THE BEST COMFORT IS JUST BEING THERE.

Youth Edition – Our Daily Bread Ministries