True or miserable comforters?

"After Job had prayed for his friends, the Lord restored his prosperity and doubled his previous possessions." (Job 42:10)

A great many people who try to be comforters, only lay thorns under aching heads. No art needs a more delicate touch, than the comforter's. The hands of most of us are too rough to be laid on throbbing hearts.

No wonder Job felt that his friends were miserable comforters, or that he was not at first in a mood to pray for them. But until he could pray for them—blessing could not come to him.

The lesson is for us. Others may have injured or grieved us in some way, and we may not be ready to forgive them. But while we feel so, we are shutting out divine blessing from ourselves.

Job's praying at length for his friends, showed that his heart was now softened toward them, that he had forgiven them. Then blessing came to him.

When we can pray for one who has wronged us, misjudged us, or said unkind things of us or to us, hurting us in some way—we are in a condition to receive blessing from God.

Job was also ready now to come out of his own sorrow—to try to help others.

We do not find comfort by staying in the darkness of our own grief, by thinking only of it; we must forget ourselves, and begin to serve others and seek their good, before we can find the light of God's comfort.

Selfishness in sorrow is selfishness, and selfishness in any form misses God's blessing.

J.M.