Job 16

Job knew the moves — he could make the fine speeches, shake his head with theological authority. He’d probably done it before his own dark season. But suffering taught him something he couldn’t unlearn: feel first, then speak. In Job 16:4–5 he says to his friends: if I were where you are, I’d choose differently. My words would bring relief, not more weight. Today’s devotional asks whether we’re the kind of people others feel safe bringing their pain to — or whether we move too quickly to fixing, explaining, and advising.