But if it Were Me...

Uniqueness should not be viewed as 'I gotta be me,' but rather with the understanding that my friend's relationship with God will be uniquely his and different from mine.

In Job 5.8 we read Eliphaz saying, "But if it were I, I would appeal to God; I would lay my cause before him." Now listen Job, here's what I would do if I were you...not that you asked.

I am so embarrassed about the number of times I have done the same thing as Eliphaz. Was Eliphaz getting ready to give good advice? Perhaps. For the next few verses (through verse 16) Eliphaz speaks of the goodness of God and His justice.

I don't see the issue here as whether or not Eliphaz or Jim Huffman gives good advice. There have been many things said about the worth of advice..."you get what you pay for and advice is free" etc. Aren't these men supposed to be "Job's comforters?" Is it the role of a comforter to be giving unsolicited advice?

It appears, from New Testament word studies, that the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, 'comes along side' the individual. It says of the Lord that He "will never leave you nor forsake you." The perspective of some is of God shouting, in quite an accusative tone, 'I SAW that! WHAT do you THINK YOU ARE DOING?!!' Don't get the voice of God confused with the voice of that elementary teacher who so intimidated you - way back when. The suggestion from God's dealings with David is an entirely different tone, 'Hi David. Why is your soul disquieted?" Or to Gideon, 'My dear valiant friend, why are you in the winepress?" Or to Elijah, 'That was quite a marvelous display of powerful faith back there in the face of Jezebel's priests. Why are you sad and in this cave?' Or, Moses in the desert of exile, 'Moses, my impetuous, chosen, anointed one. Take off your sandals. I'm here to visit. This is now Holy Ground.'

Can you identify with David hiding in the cave, or Gideon hiding in the winepress, or Elijah hiding in the cave, or Moses hiding out in the desert, or Job sitting by the fire grieving his loses? Probably you can. You can probably also remember feeling that if you hear one more person saying, "I know just how you feel" you would probably scream or hit someone. Or perhaps even worse, someone intimates that "you brought it on yourself" or "if you would have done...this wouldn't have happened." And then there is the righteous, self-appointed 'comforter' who will proceed to inform you of the how, why, and when's of God's dealings with you.

The lesson here? God comes along side and gently asks a simple question, "What's happening, my dear friend?" It is an invitation to "cast your care on Him because He cares for you." God uniquely cares about you! You truly are one of a kind and He treats you in such a fashion, recognizing the value of a unique commodity.

 Shouldn't we do likewise in all similar situations?