This week we focus on the Lenten theme of waiting and trusting.
Words of Reflection
One of the most well-known stories of waiting in the Bible is the story of Job, the man who lost everything and found himself waiting on God in ways most of us can never understand. His story is so well-known that the phrase “the patience of Job” is familiar even outside of faith circles.
In the second chapter of Job he is visited by three companions who have heard about his troubles:
“When Job’s three friends, Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite, heard about all the troubles that had come upon him, they set out from their homes and met together by agreement to go and sympathize with him and comfort him. When they saw him from a distance, they could hardly recognize him; they began to weep aloud, and they tore their robes and sprinkled dust on their heads. Then they sat on the ground with him for seven days and seven nights. No one said a word to him, because they saw how great his suffering was.”—Job 2:11-13 (NIV)
Because of what happens next, we often forget that at the beginning these friends do exactly what Job needs: they weep with him, they sit with him, they mourn with him, and they keep silence with him. For seven days and nights they are true companions in suffering. They don’t try to fix the problem, they simply mourn with their friend. If only they had continued in that mode instead of opening their mouths…
When we are waiting on God we need true friends alongside us, friends who do not judge us or try to offer quick solutions—friends who will sit with us in our most difficult seasons. Paul was talking about this kind of friendship when he wrote, “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” (Gal. 6:2 (NIV)
I remember such a friend years ago, when Sharon was facing life-threatening surgery. His name was Jim. As I sat in the hospital waiting room he simply came and sat with me. For three hours. Every once in a while he would ask if I needed a drink or water or anything, but for most of the time in that waiting room he just joined me in silent waiting.
And in that silent waiting he was Jesus to me.
May we find friends like that when we are in difficult seasons, and may we be friends like that when those around us are in their own.
Scripture for Meditation:
Two are better than one because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up the other, but woe to one who is alone and falls and does not have another to help. Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? And though one might prevail against another, two will withstand one. A threefold cord is not quickly broken.
—Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 (NRSV)
Song: Borrow Mine
Take my hand and walk with me a while
'Cause it seems your smile has left you
And don't give in when you fall apart
And your broken heart has failed you
I'll set a light up on a hilltop
To show you my love for this world to seeYou can borrow mine when your hope is gone
Borrow mine when you can't go on
'Cause the world will not defeat you
When we're side by side
When your faith is hard to find
You can borrow mineAnd take my love when all that you can see
Is the raging sea all around us
And don't give up 'cause I'm not letting go
And the God we know will not fail us
We'll lay it all down as we call out
Sweet Savior help our unbeliefYou can borrow mine when your hope is gone
Borrow mine when you can't go on
'Cause the world will not defeat you
When we're side by side
When your faith is hard to find
You can borrow mineWhen you are weak
Unable to speak
Well you are not alone
The God who has saved us
Will never forsake us
He's comin' to take us
Take us to our homeYou can borrow mine when your hope is gone
Borrow mine when you can't go on
'Cause the world will not defeat you
When we're side by side
When your faith is hard to find
When your faith is hard to find
You can borrow mine
You can borrow mine
Bebo Norman
© 2004 Appstreet Music; New Spring
Questions for Contemplation:
Can you think of a time when you found a true friend in a difficult season of waiting on God? Spend some time in grateful prayer for those he has brought into your life when you needed them most.
Is someone you know going through a hard journey of trusting God right now? How might God be calling you to come alongside them and offer your love, even if it’s through silent companionship?
Our reading for today contains these difficult words: “woe to one who is alone and falls and does not have another to help.” Spend some time praying for all those who feel alone and helpless. Pray for someone to come into their lives and be Jesus to them.