Some dear friends of mine lost their little boy, Raphael, to death after just 8 weeks of life. Although my heart broke for them and I longed to be a comfort, I had no idea how to ease their pain.
Job also faced incredible loss and grief and needed comfort. Though he feared God and had been blessed with children and possessions (Job 1:1-3), he was not immune to suffering.
Satan claimed that Job remained faithful to God only because the Lord was protecting him (Job 1:9-10), and if he would lose everything, Job would surely curse God (Job 1:11). The Lord agreed to test his servant and sadly Job lost everything—including his children (Job 1:13-19).
Although Job was deep in grief, he continued to bless the Lord (Job 1:20-22). Then Satan inflicted Job with painful sores, causing his wife to say, “Are you still trying to maintain your integrity? Curse God and die” (Job 2:9). Job rebuked her, however, and refused to say anything against God (Job 2:10).
When three of Job’s friends heard of his suffering, they came to comfort him (Job 2:11). Hardly recognizing their hurting friend, they simply sat with him for seven days and nights—not saying a word to him. For they saw that his suffering was too great for words (Job 2:12-13).
Similarly, a colleague of mine whose wife passed away has a friend who came to his house and sat with him in silence during the months following the tragic loss. Initially, the stillness felt awkward, but he soon grew to enjoy the moments of quiet comfort and companionship.
We often feel compelled to say or do something that will bring peace to a troubled soul, but sometimes the best thing we can do is sit still with others in God’s presence (Psalm 46:10).
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Luke 5:1-39
More:
Read Proverbs 17:17 and consider how you can best meet the needs of a grieving friend.
Next:
What are the most meaningful things someone has said or done for you while you were grieving? Why is remaining silent sometimes the best course in helping a hurting friend?
Gary Shultz on June 25, 2015 at 6:36 am
This is very timely for me, down to the day. Thank you
Mike Wittmer on June 25, 2015 at 7:15 am
This is so true, painfully true. When words are not enough there is Jesus, and we can represent Him when we sit and grieve with our mourning friends.
Ruth O'reilly-smith on June 25, 2015 at 8:22 am
I’m praying for you Gary and Mike – our Heavenly Father has not forgotten you or you pain. I think one of the biggest reasons we tend to keep those we care about at arms length when they’re going through difficult times, is because we long to comfort them but we don’t know what to say or do and so, we just stay away. Being free to sit with someone in their pain is liberating, and frees us to stay close to those we care about during some of the most heart breaking moments of life.
Tom Felten on June 25, 2015 at 11:19 am
Ruth, I’m reminded of how Jesus wept as He dealt with the death of a friend. God also grieves the loss of life. His honest expression of emotion reminds me to enter into others’ pain and grieve with them. Just as His presence provides such comfort to us, we can provide comfort by simply “being there” for those who have faced loss.
Ruth O'reilly-smith on June 26, 2015 at 12:59 am
Tom, I love that powerful illustration of the tremendous compassion of Jesus. And, as we are comforted by our Heavenly Father, we are able to show the same comfort and compassion to those who are troubled and mourn: 2 Corinthians 1:3-7 “He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us” (v.4).
Winn Collier on June 28, 2015 at 3:16 pm
Friends of ours lost twins, still in the womb, this past week. Miska, my wife, said almost this exactly – that her only desire was to sit with them…