6 May | Teens
«I have heard many such things: miserable comforters are ye all….Shall vain words have an end? or what emboldeneth thee that thou answerest?» Job 16: 2,3
Job faced one of the harshest trials anyone can imagine. He lost almost everything he had: his health, wealth and children. But one of the hardest parts of his story, told in Job 4 to 18, was the misunderstanding of his friends. They came with the intention of comforting him, but ended up accusing Job of having done something wrong to deserve such suffering.
Job's situation shows us how painful it can be when the people we expect to support us can't really understand us. Job's friends thought they had all the answers, but in fact, they didn't understand what Job was going through. This teaches us the importance of listening and trying to understand, rather than judging or offering quick fixes to others' problems.
Often, we are also quick to jump to conclusions or accept one side of the story without knowing all the details. True friendship, however, goes beyond that. A true friend seeks to put himself in the other's shoes, to understand the situation from the person's perspective. Isn't that exactly what Jesus did?
Take Action
To practice empathy and true support, try to be a better listener today. If a friend or family member is going through a difficult time, offer your shoulder and ears without judgment. Remember that sometimes all someone needs is to be heard and understood, not necessarily an immediate solution to their problems.