Walk a mile in someone’s shoes.

If you were in my place I could also talk like you. I could string words together against you and shake my head at you. Job 16:4

We tend to be so quick in giving someone advice or even judging them before we hear the whole story. Job’s friends did more to discourage than to encourage him because they didn’t put themselves in his shoes, so to speak. They probably meant well and tried to get him out of his mourning but all Job needed was someone to listen to him. His suffering was severe. He just wanted someone to unload his burden to. Let’s learn from this and be the people that would rather be silent than speak too quickly when someone is in deep waters. I think what was more painful for Job was having to listen to his friends’ ramblings. If only they had walked one step in his shoes. Choose mercy. Let God be the judge.