Job 2:11-12 Now when Job’s three friends heard of all this evil that was come upon him, they came every one from his own place; Eliphaz the Temanite, and Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite: for they had made an appointment together to come to mourn with him and to comfort him.12 And when they lifted up their eyes afar off, and knew him not, they lifted up their voice, and wept; and they rent every one his mantle, and sprinkled dust upon their heads toward heaven.
Job’s friends came to help Job in his time of need. Yesterday, I wrote about the fact that they made themselves available to come and “Be There” for Job. They made an appointment together to come to mourn with him and to comfort him. These friends not only were available, but the were vulnerable. They wept with Job and mourned with him. Their goal was to be a comfort to their friend, even though they eventually failed at their purpose.
People that are hurting need someone that is willing to open up to their emotions, a person that will mourn with them. Jesus wept at the graveside of His friend Lazarus. He was willing to open Himself up to human emotions. He wept with Mary and Martha, Lazarus’ sisters. Being a comfort to someone that is hurting is an emotional work.
Romans 12:15 Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.
If our goal is to be a help and a comfort to someone, we need to be willing to cry and mourn with them. This is not always our favorite place to be, yet we are commanded to weep with those that weep. You have no idea how much comfort you can bring to someone that is hurting by just entering into their pain. You will not understand completely what they are going through, however it is a proof to them that somebody cares. Tears are a universal language that we all speak from time to time. Weeping with others shows we have an understanding that they hurt.
The Lord commanded His children to love one another. Our love should be demonstrated in caring, crying with and comforting one another. Opportunities do not always present themselves, but there will be times when we can help a hurting friend by being willing to get emotional. Open your heart to a hurting friend.