In our daily Bible reading plan, Sarah and I are working our way through the Book of Job. It is not pleasant reading and deeply challenging at times, especially the way in which Job suffered and the way his friends responded to his suffering. I wonder if you ever feel overwhelmed by the problems and difficulties you are facing? Do you doubt whether God has the power or the desire to help you? Even though Job suffered terribly he understood the transcendent power of God. Job says to his friends, “I will teach you about the power of God.” (27v11). We can learn from Job that God is a loving Father who is powerful enough to help each one of us. God is not only powerful enough to help you; he also loves you enough to do so. And of course, we all want to comfort our friends when they're in need and at least Job’s friends went to visit him. Sometimes in our desperation to try and understand someone's suffering or to help, we say things that aren’t helpful at all just like Job’s friends. It is very difficult to know how to comfort someone when they are facing something terrible. Some people get it absolutely right, but often the best thing we can do is to listen, be there for them and pray. ‘Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God’. 1 Corinthians 1 v 3 - 4.
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