The accusations of Job’s friends become more vehement and things progress. They want this situation to make sense so much that they become impatient with Job and begin to attack him for not confirming their account of his situation. And so Job’s friends join the rest of those around him who now spurn him. It is a strange situation, to spurn someone because of their suffering. Have you ever become impatient with someone because they didn’t just ‘get over’ their problem, or because they wouldn’t see your perspective on their situation? I think we do this more than we know. Being spurned by other people is as great an injury as a person can suffer. It is actually very common for hurting people to be spurned, simply because other people don’t want to get ‘dragged down’. People tend to not want to relate to people who are likely to ‘take up a lot of their emotional energy’. This attitude is unfortunate because it is a symptom of an attitude that treats other people as a means to an end. When you really care about a person you will find that you don’t get pulled down; rather they get pulled up. To care for a person is not to wallow with them in their darkness. It is to share your light. Don’t try to solve the other person’s problems like Job’s friends did. This only leads to frustration. Just be there and you will become a shining light in a dark place. People don’t need your advice; they need you.
Think of someone who may need some company this week. Arrange to spend some time with them.
Read Job 18-19
