Dear Friends,

After they heard about his tragedies, Job’s three friends showed up. At first they just sat with Job. But then they started to speak. They accused Job of being so sinful in thought, word, or deed that God had zeroed in on him for punishment.

As if life weren’t tough enough for Job, his friends were adding insult to injury!

While you may not want to follow the example of Job’s friends in word, you should follow their example in deed. No matter what they said, Job’s friends were there by his side during his affliction.

“Anyone who withholds kindness from a friend forsakes the fear of the Almighty” (Job 6:14).

A person who had lost her mom once said, “You never forget people who care enough to come to the funeral.” You are also likely to remember those who lend emotional support in other ways.

Don’t withhold kindness from your friends. Be there when they hurt and when they just need a helping hand.

Challenge for Today: Support someone who is mourning with your physical or emotional presence. Pray for them and offer words that are encouraging and push them towards Jesus and not words that are filled with condemnation or your opinions.