Today Job continues his lament. He has a lot to lament, after all. But what is bothering him at this stage of his lament? He is troubled by the way his friends treat him. He compares his friends to seasonal streams which are of no use to people who expect them to be present. What has Job asked of his friends? He knows they cannot deliver him from his pain. He knows they cannot restore his family and his possessions to him. He asks only their friendship and comfort. He asks that which they specifically do not do.
We, like Job's friends, are often quick to jump into a situation with explanations for suffering or with ways the suffering person could have avoided his situation. This is not helpful. All it does is remind our suffering friends of their situation. It serves to drag people down rather than to build them up. How can we comfort the afflicted? If we are able, we can bring something to the situation that will ease their affliction. The family which suffered loss of all their possessions in a house fire will genuinely benefit from a gift of clothes, food, and a place to stay. They will not benefit from an explanation that outdated electrical wiring is hazardous. They already know that and our mentioning it will not help them in any way. They may benefit from a chance to talk with someone about their interests or the way they have always been involved in community affairs. This is helpful. It moves their attention from their suffering to the rest of life.
In all our comfort, let us also remember that our Lord is the Lord of life. It is he who involves us in our community. It is he who provides for all our needs. It is he who appoints us our daily occupation, rather, our vocation. In our comfort of our friends, may we lead them to look in hope to the Lord.
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