How To Comfort The Hurting

Supernatural Conversation

There are eyes on you and conversations about you in the supernatural

Job 1:1 “1 There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job; and that man was blameless, upright, fearing God and turning away from evil.”

God and His creation is taking notice of the righteous

Job 1:9–12 NASB 2020

9 Then Satan answered the Lord, “Does Job fear God for nothing? 10 Have You not made a fence around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. 11 But reach out with Your hand now and touch all that he has; he will certainly curse You to Your face.” 12 Then the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your power; only do not reach out and put your hand on him.” So Satan departed from the presence of the Lord.

Job 2:1–6 NASB 2020

1 Again, there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them to present himself before the Lord. 2 The Lord said to Satan, “Where have you come from?” Then Satan answered the Lord and said, “From roaming about on the earth and walking around on it.” 3 The Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job? For there is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man fearing God and turning away from evil. And he still holds firm to his integrity, although you incited Me against him to ruin him without cause.” 4 Satan answered the Lord and said, “Skin for skin! Yes, all that a man has, he will give for his life. 5 However, reach out with Your hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh; he will curse You to Your face!” 6 So the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, he is in your power, only spare his life.”

We must keep in mind the supernatural realm is discussing us. We see this in many references Isaiah 14, Ezekiel 28, Gen 3,

1 Kings 22:19–23 NASB 2020

19 And Micaiah said, “Therefore, hear the word of the Lord. I saw the Lord sitting on His throne, and all the angels of heaven standing by Him on His right and on His left. 20 And the Lord said, ‘Who will entice Ahab to go up and fall at Ramoth-gilead?’ And one spirit said this, while another said that. 21 Then a spirit came forward and stood before the Lord, and said, ‘I will entice him.’ 22 And the Lord said to him, ‘How?’ And he said, ‘I will go out and be a deceiving spirit in the mouths of all his prophets.’ Then He said, ‘You shall entice him, and you will also prevail. Go and do so.’ 23 Now then, behold, the Lord has put a deceiving spirit in the mouth of all these prophets of yours; and the Lord has declared disaster against you.”

There are influences in our lives that are directly impacted by the supernatural realm

Sorrows Of Life

Life happens

Life is always changing

Life impacts everyone

Finances

Children

Relationships/ Marriage

Selfish Counsel

When life shows up sometimes the ministry of presence is enough

Job 2:11–13 NASB 2020

11 Now when Job’s three friends heard about all this adversity that had come upon him, they came, each one from his own place—Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite; and they made an appointment together to come to sympathize with him and comfort him. 12 When they looked from a distance and did not recognize him, they raised their voices and wept. And each of them tore his robe, and they threw dust over their heads toward the sky. 13 Then they sat down on the ground with him for seven days and seven nights, with no one speaking a word to him, for they saw that his pain was very great.

Avoid

Blaming

Accusations

Character interpretations

Diagnosis

Over Spiritualization

Unsupportive attitude

Misinterpretation of Scripture/Manipulated scripture

Value the emotions of others when they are enduring their difficulties in life because your time is sure to come

Sharp Rebuke

Then Job answered: 2 I have heard many things like these. You are all miserable comforters. 3 Is there no end to your empty, words? What provokes you that you continue testifying? 4 If you were in my place I could also talk like you. I could string words together against you and shake my head at you. 5 Instead, I would encourage you with my mouth , and the consolation from my lips would bring relief. 6 If I speak, my suffering is not relieved, and if I hold back, does any of it leave me?

Understand the importance of ministry in afflictions:

Prayer

Presence

Peacefulness

Encouragement

Protection

Provisions (Cook meals, errands, chores)

Ministry of hush/be quiet is vital

Sometimes we are forced to encourage ourselves

Job 13:15 “15 “Though He slay me, I will hope in Him. Nevertheless I will argue my ways before Him.”

Its important to remember how God finds us

Job 1:22 “22 Despite all this, Job did not sin, nor did he blame God.”

Job 2:10 “10 But he said to her, “You are speaking as one of the foolish women speaks. Shall we actually accept good from God but not accept adversity?” Despite all this, Job did not sin with his lips.”

Solutions To Comfort

Remember

Proverbs 17:17 “17 A friend loves at all times, And a brother is born for adversity.”

Proverbs 18:21 “21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit.”

Galatians 6:2 “2 Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ.”

Ephesians 4:1–2 “1 Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love,”

Ephesians 4:29 “29 Let no unwholesome word come out of your mouth, but if there is any good word for edification according to the need of the moment, say that, so that it will give grace to those who hear.”

Romans 12:15 “15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.”

2 Corinthians 1:3–4 “3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.”

Remember

Galatians 5:22–26 “22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24 Now those who belong to Christ Jesus crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live by the Spirit, let’s follow the Spirit as well. 26 Let’s not become boastful, challenging one another, envying one another.”

1 Peter 2:21–25 “21 For you have been called for this purpose, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you would follow in His steps, 22 He who committed no sin, nor was any deceit found in His mouth; 23 and while being abusively insulted, He did not insult in return; while suffering, He did not threaten, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously; 24 and He Himself brought our sins in His body up on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live for righteousness; by His wounds you were healed. 25 For you were continually straying like sheep, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls.”

Remember

Our trials and afflictions have an expiration date be encouraged