(#15) I'm thankful for comforting Bible verses

"Is not your wickedness great, and your iniquities without end?" (Job 22:5). In times of pain and discouragement, I often see people telling the afflicted, "Don't worry, everything will be ok," "your wife is in a better place," or "we'll understand it all one day." But wouldn't it be better to use a more poignant scripture like Eliphaz's thoughtful remark to Job that he probably was suffering because he was a terrible person? There are loads of deep, meaningful passages in the Bible that we can use just like that. One of the most effective methods we can utilize to comfort someone in pain is to remind them about how wicked people suffer horrendous pain, and then passively insinuate that most likely their grief is a result of their hatred for homeless people. I guarantee you, use this one little known trick, and your conversations with hurting people will change dramatically. Try memorizing this verse, and break it out when someone is at the very brink of despair: "You have sent widows away empty and the strength of orphans has been crushed" (Job 22:9). Be sure that your body language conveys real empathy for the person in their struggle. Don't just say these words, really mean them. As thought-provoking as Eliphaz is, he can't light a candle to the Rabshakeh, which in Arkadian means the same thing as the Greek paracletos. If you want to become the next comforter-in-chief, take a page out of this guy's book. He refused to limit his words of comfort to just a few people. When he saw a large multitude trapped in a difficult situation, he got down on their level and really spoke their language. He didn't sugar-coat things, oh no. He got real with them: "Has my master not sent me to speak to the men who sit on the wall, doomed to eat their own dung and drink their own urine with you?" (Isaiah 36:12). Now you tell me, who do you want by your side when you're between a rock and a hard place: Aunt Marge, who's gonna tell you everything's "alright", or the Rabshakeh, who really knows and understands what you're going through? I think the answer's pretty obvious. There are so many other passages we could talk about. You can always remind them how things could be worse. Remind them that instead of a curable cancer, they could have a grotesque form of flesh-rotting leprosy, or they could be sawn asunder or torn apart by wild beasts. So really, they are in no position to express even the slightest negativity. Just think how many people you can encourage this way! I hope these brief thoughts have been helpful to you. Remember to not be merely hearers of the word, but actually go out and deliver these words of comfort to the faint of heart.