Silent Wisdom - January 6, 2010

Daily Reading

Job 10-13

Daily Verse

If only you would be altogether silent!

For you, that would be wisdom.

Job 13:5

Daily Thought

Watch the comparisons

• "My brother-in-law had the same thing and..."
• "It's not as bad as that time I. . ."

Don't lay the blame

• "You just need more faith"
• "Well, you had it coming..."

Be careful explaining God

• "This is God making you strong"

You're not the doctor

• "I read on the internet about a special treatment"

Beware "At least"

• "At least you've had a good life"

Oh, those clichés and platitudes!

• "Look on the bright side"
• "What doesn't kill you makes you stronger"

We fear the silence, so we fill the silence. Awkwardly.

If only you would be altogether silent!

For you, that would be wisdom.

--Job 13:5

If these are the don't's, what do we do when our friend is suffering?

• Show up: Job's friends got it right for a week (Job 2:13). Just be there.
• Love: Talk relationally.
• Serve: See a need and meet it.
• Pray: Bring God with you.

To God's Glory,

Dave

Daily Prayer

Father God, you are our comfort and our refuge. You are all-powerful and all-knowing. There is nothing so big that we cannot bring it to you. You are an intimate, loving Father. There is nothing so small that you are not interested. You delight in our prayers, which is amazing and wonderful.

God, may we walk through our days with you, speaking to you always, sharing our pleasures and our pains, our desires and our concerns. Then, God, may we find peace and contentment, because we do not walk alone.

Amen