Being There
Bible in a Year:
They sat on the ground with [Job] for seven days and seven nights.
Jen’s actions are a beautiful example of how we can come alongside those who are grieving or suffering. The Bible tells of Job’s crippling grief after the loss of his home, his herds (his income), his health, and the simultaneous deaths of his ten children. When Job’s friends learned of his pain, they “set out from their homes . . . [to go] comfort him” (Job 2:11). Job sat on the ground in mourning. When they arrived, his friends sat down with him—for seven days—saying nothing because they saw the depth of his suffering.
In their humanness, Job’s friends later offered Job insensitive advice. But for the first seven days, they gave him the wordless and tender gift of presence. We may not understand someone’s grief, but we don’t need to understand in order to love them well by simply being with them.
Reflect & Pray
Who has been with you in difficult times? Who needs your presence today?
God, I thank You for being with me always—in good times and bad. Help me to offer that gift of presence to those You put in my path.
To learn more about helping hurting people, visit ChristianUniversity.org/CC205.
