“Your words have supported those who stumbled; you have strengthened faltering knees. But now trouble comes to you, and you are discouraged; it strikes you, and you are dismayed. Should not your piety be your confidence and your blameless ways your hope?”
Job 4:4-6
Eliphaz, one of the three friends who visited Job during his suffering, was the first friend to speak to Job. The fourth chapter of Job is Eliphaz’s response to Job’s suffering and can be shortly summed up as Eliphaz’s belief that Job needs to repent of whatever wrongdoing that has caused so much grief, despair, and suffering to fall on him. The verses above provide an interesting message, one that we hear frequently in today’s world.
Have you ever walked a mile in someone else’s shoes? Have you ever spoken advice as to what you would do in a particular situation without knowing all of the details and information? If so, you are very much like Eliphaz. We all have arguably given advice, have encouraged those around us when they were down, or even said what we’d do if we were in a particular situation.
However, the truth is that you don’t know how you will respond, what you would do, or even say until you have been in the same place. Eliphaz says to Job and reminds him that he has encouraged those who have stumbled, and has strengthened those with weak knees. Yet now that trouble has befallen Job, he is full of self-pity. Eliphaz is quick to give advice and shed light on Job’s grief, when he himself has not “walked a mile in Job’s shoes.” He doesn’t know the full circumstances that took place. He doesn’t know that Satan approached God to tempt Job, and God deeming Job righteous gave Satan permission to tempt him.
No, instead he assumed Job was guilty. Eliphaz doesn’t know the losses that Job has faced in the forms of livestock, servants, a painful skin disease, and even the deaths of his children. Yet, he is quick to tell Job to deal with his loss.
There is beauty in encouraging our friends and family during times of suffering and loss. There is wisdom in giving Godly advice, but Christians must remember that every individual grieves or mourns differently. As Christians we must be mindful and learn how to be wise in encouraging those who are in life’s valleys. Don’t assume you know all the details or that you know it all, but approach God’s people with grace and meet them where they are. Provide a hand, some encouragement, and help through their difficult time. There is a time and place for rebuking, and a time for compassion. Pray to God to give you the wisdom to learn how to us them, and how to help his people through times of suffering.
Prayer:
Lord,
Times of suffering are inevitable. Help me not to be wise in my own eyes or to believe I know it all. Help me to be humble, and to approach your people with love and strength to help them through their valleys.
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen.
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