What Did I Just Say?

Sometimes we find ourselves in places and spaces in life where frankly we are just at a loss for words.  Perhaps the most frequent of those moments is when people are experiencing tragedy in their lives.  From the sudden loss of a loved one to the announcement of a diagnosis, it’s difficult to know what to say and how to say it.  We may find ourselves fumbling over our words and leaving our friends and family thinking to ourselves, “what did I just say?”  “Did I really mean to say that?”  Most of the time we are looking to bring peace, comfort, and a little hope to their lives.  On a regular basis when I am talking to people going through tragedy I pray, “God help me to say what you want me to say or just keep my mouth shut.”  But for some reason when people are silent, we like to fill the silence with words.  That’s exactly what was happening in the book of Job.  Job is one of the most perplexing and yet profound books of the Bible.  Considered part of the Wisdom Literature in the Old Testament, much of Job reads like a beautiful yet complicated poem.  Woven within the poetry are “words of comfort” from three of Job’s friends, Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar.  Although these words are meant to help Job in the middle of loosing all his family, all his property, and even his health, their words don’t seem very comforting or helpful.  Maybe it’s because they come off as theological platitudes rather than words of compassion or empathy.  Chapter after chapter Job is blasted for his depression, his defeat, his utter despair toward life and God.  And to the modern reader these friends don’t come off as friends at all.  They seem more like people obsessed with being “right” about their understanding of God and life, rather than comforting a friend who has experienced overwhelming tragedy.  And yet as we read further we will discover there are some truths about God in what Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophar have to say.  There is the tension between the character of God and the comfort of Job.  It’s that tension that keeps us from quickly dismissing the words of Job’s friends but at the same time looking at Job with sincere compassion.  The story of Job is a complicated story, but one that really challenges our understanding of life, fairness, good, and bad.  Sometimes we live under this illusion that if we come to church, if we serve God, then our lives will be comfortable, easy, and successful.  But Job is an ever-present reminder that health, wealth and success are not the aims of a Christian life, rather we are called to love God and others as ourselves in the middle of all life circumstances-the good, the bad, and the just plain awful.  

As we experience the many ups and downs in life and as we bring comfort to our family and friends, let’s always remember we don’t have to defend God.  We don’t have to speak on God’s behalf.  All we really need to be is present.  And our presence is enough.  Will there be moments when we think to ourselves, “Did I really just say that?”  absolutely, but that doesn’t mean we stop trying to bring comfort to people who need a healing touch.  

Blessings

Pastor Rachel