Job’s friends got one thing right. It’s not what they said, but what they didn’t.
There’s certainly a time to speak. God did that when He showed up.
But there’s also a time to weep. Your friend needs this, and so do you.
That also means I don’t need to talk heavy theology all the time. I don’t need to talk about my hurt whenever you’re here. It doesn’t always have to be morbid and dreary and grave. Sometimes I just need Netflix and ice cream and a greasy hamburger with you. Sometimes your friend needs you to force them to get dressed, go to that revival, go to that birthday party, go to the charity, go to the gym. I want to ice skate and fall down. I want the dumb movie. I want chicken noodle soup, and not a cup, but the bowl. Your friend needs sweat pants and pictures of cats. I need you to get ready for one moment of laughter and the next moment of tears. But mostly, we need to see the colors again, even through the weeping.
— J.S. | Mad About God
J.S. Park: Hospital Chaplain, Skeptical Christian 
I was not a believer when my Mom passed away. I was wounded most by believers who tried to make a theology out of my sufferings.
Shockingly, my friends comforted me the most by saying nothing. I still remember one friend who came to my place and said, “I heard about your mother. Inotambika.” Inotambika is a slang word equivalent to the English stuff happens.
He was not making light of my situation, he had also lost his dead few months before. It was comforting. Theology is not bad, but good theology is grounded on empathy and does not necessarily quoting 17 scriptures.
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This post is right on point! Thank you for the encouragement today!
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