Job 16:19-21

Just in case someone isn’t familiar with Job’s story, let me give you the quick version. (Or as us old people call it, the Cliff Notes.) Job was a man who lived for God fully. He was sold out & doing life God’s ways. Satan wanted to test Job and see if he would turn his back on God when life got bad. So, he made Job’s life terrible. He killed his children, took his job & money and made him sick.

Job’s friends are an example of how NOT to treat people when they are going through a hard time. They questioned him. They assumed he had sinned and that GOD was punishing him. That was not true whatsoever.

When our friends go through difficult times, they need support, a listening ear, a shoulder to cry on, and prayer. Sometimes that support is just being there & not saying a word. That’s the ministry of presence. In the Jewish culture, when a loved one dies, friends go sit with the family for 7 days. (That’s why so many people were st Martha, Mary, & Lazarus’ house when Jesus got there… after Lazarus died.)

The BIGGEST & BEST thing you can do is pray for someone. Prayer is so intimate. And yet, so powerful! Taking a friend, loved one, or strangers name and needs to the Lord is HUGE! When someone is crying out for help, even on social media, I type out a prayer. It’s a good practice to stop what you are doing and pray right then. Don’t wait.

For a few months now, I’ve been praying on the phone with my best friend back in my hometown. It radically shifted something in both of our lives. My husband has been known to pray for friends and complete strangers out in public. He is way bolder when it comes to that than I am.

I want to challenge every person who reads this- find you a prayer partner and pray together regularly! You won’t regret it!