Becoming a Friend of Job

Finally, let’s share how the Bible book of Job helped. No greater series of disasters befall a person today than those Job experiences. Nevertheless, Job is a figure of hope, of healing, and of transformation. If you’ve not already done so, I hope you’ll become familiar with the book of Job. Then you’ll become what I call myself, a “friend of Job.” I love the book of Job because in it Job is so human, and God is so sovereign.

I envision three senses in which we can call ourselves a Friend of Job.

Like Job’s own “friends,” we may become a friend of Job by acting in a way critical, judgmental, and condemning of others.  We have all the answers right up front. We know why people suffer: God is punishing them for their personal sin. But don’t laugh. A lot of people today think, feel, and believe that. Sometimes they even say it to others. Those “friends” of Job hurt more than heal.

Another sense of the term is someone who provides others a lot of listening, understanding, and empathy. Speaking the truth in love, confronting with reality, and giving advice can wait for a more opportune moment. Let’s be quick to listen, slow to speak, but slow to anger (James 1:19). That’s the sense in which I see myself as a friend of Job. I invite you to join me in that pursuit.

I also use Friend of Job in the sense of a skeptic. I’ll discuss that idea next week.

About Grose

Gordon Grose loves most to write, speak, and preach on the message of hope from the book of Job. Using drama, video, and PowerPoint, he has preached and presented this message of hope to churches around the country. Grose pastored three congregations 25 years, then served 12 years as a pastoral counselor in a Portland, Oregon counseling clinic. He now serves with Good Samaritan Counseling Services, Beaverton, OR. A graduate of Wheaton College (IL), Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, Brandeis University, and Boston University, he comes from a rich and varied background in theological and counseling training. In 2015, Gordon published Tragedy Transformed: How Job's Recovery Can Provide Hope For Yours, a book about turning to Job for hope after tragedy. If you have experienced life challenges or personal tragedy, visit his Transforming Tragedy (gordongrose.com) blog to learn more. TragedyTransformed.com provides a sample of Gordon's speaking as well as an opportunity to purchase copies of his book.
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