Living In The Light

April 11, When Friends Fail

“I have heard many such things; miserable comforters are you all!”
—Job 16:2 LL 110.1

Job was not understood by his friends. He flings back upon them their reproaches. He shows them that if they are defending God in avowing their faith in him and their consciousness of sin, he had a more deep and thorough knowledge of it than they ever had. “Miserable comforters are ye all,” is the answer he makes them to their criticisms and censures. “I also,” says Job, “could speak as ye do if your soul were in my soul’s stead. I could heap up words against you, and shake my head at you.” But he declares he would not do this. “I,” he says, “would strengthen you with my mouth, and the moving of my lips should assuage your grief.” LL 110.2

Well-meaning brethren and sisters, but having narrow conceptions and looking only at externals, may attempt to help matters which they have no real knowledge of. Their limited experience cannot fathom the feelings of a soul who has been urged out by the Spirit of God, and has felt to the depths that earnest and inexpressible love and interest for the cause of God and for souls that they have never experienced, and who have borne burdens in the cause of God they have never lifted. LL 110.3

The narrow vision of some short-sighted, short-experienced friends, cannot appreciate the feelings of a soul who has been in close harmony with the soul of Christ in connection with the salvation of souls. The motives are misunderstood and the actions misconstrued by those who would be his friends, until, like Job, the earnest prayer goes forth from his lips, Save me from my friends. LL 110.4

God takes the ease ofJob in hand Himself. His patience has been severely taxed; but when God speaks, all his pettish feelings are changed. His self-justification, which he felt necessary to withstand the condemnation of his friends, is not necessary toward God. He never misjudges. God never errs. Says the Lord to Job, “Gird up now thy loins like a man” (Job 38:3); and Job no sooner hears the divine voice than his soul is bowed down with a sense of his sinfulness, and he says before God, “I abhor myself in dust and ashes.”— Testimony for the Church , no. 25a, pp. 94—96. LL 110.5

Further Reflection: When friends fail you in times of great distress, to whom do you turn for help and support? How can you encourage someone who might be hurting today? LL 110.6