Job 2:11-13
11 Now when Job's three friends heard of all this evil that had come upon him, they came each from his own place, Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite. They made an appointment together to come to show him sympathy and comfort him. 12 And when they saw him from a distance, they did not recognize him. And they raised their voices and wept, and they tore their robes and sprinkled dust on their heads toward heaven. 13 And they sat with him on the ground seven days and seven nights, and no one spoke a word to him, for they saw that his suffering was very great.
Part of the reason we drop the ball with grieving individuals is that we flat don’t know what to say. Whether you have suffered like that person or not, their suffering is still intense and intensely personal. Coming up with something to say feels like letting your kids help with cooking, you just hope they don’t mess it up too much. Here we have some good news: your presence is your best ministry.
One pastor’s wife who lost her son to suicide said these friends of Job did such a good job until they started speaking. While Jesus has come to undo death, at the tomb of Lazarus He wept with the family. If you know someone who is in a grief, big or small, take it upon yourself not to fix them, but to weep with those who weep. And do so knowing you serve a God who wept with you.
Prayer prompt: Lord, thank You for healing me by suffering with me. Teach me to be willing to suffer for others.