约伯的三个朋友，提幔人以利法、书亚人比勒达、拿玛人琐法，听到这一切降在他身上的灾祸，就各从自己的地方出发，相约而来对他表同情，安慰他。 他们从远处举目观望，竟认不出他来，就放声大哭，各自撕裂外袍，向天扬起尘土，落在自己头上。 他们就七天七夜与他一起坐在地上，没有人向他说一句话，因为他们看出他极其痛苦。 (约伯记 2:11-13)
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)
Listening says, “What matters to you matters to me.” Sometimes people do want advice. But often they just want to be listened to by someone who loves and cares about them.
Listening is hard work, and it takes time. It takes time to listen long enough to hear the other person’s true heart, so that if we do speak, we speak with gentle wisdom.
Oh, Lord, give us a loving heart and a listening ear.
When I’m thinking about an answer while others are talking—I’m not listening.
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