“But I have understanding as well as you;
I am not inferior to you.” – Job 12:3

You may be familiar with the story of Job. He lost everything. He lost his livelihood. He lost his home. He lost his children. Then his friends attempted to offer sage and spiritual wisdom, but they failed. They did not understand what he was going through. They did not understand what he was telling them. They did not understand his pain.

No matter what Job said, his friends would not let up. Offering false platitudes, they insisted that the tragedy Job experienced was because he made God angry at him. They did not understand how Job could claim he was innocent of any charge that would warrant such great punishment from God.

Oh, how alone Job felt. Especially among friends.

Think about a time when you felt misunderstood. Did you feel alone like Job? You tried your best to communicate your thoughts and feelings, but people completely missed the point. 

We long to be understood. It’s part of how we connect with each other. We want to be known.

Jesus understands what it is like to be misunderstood. When Jesus said his followers would consume his flesh and blood, many of them left – because they misunderstood.  Later, the Twelve abandoned Jesus when He went to the cross – because they misunderstood.

Jesus went to the cross because He knows you and understands your deepest need.  And because of what He did there, you can know Him and connect with Him. 

Now, no matter where you are in life, you can be confident, because in Jesus, you are understood. 

Prayer:  Jesus, thank you for understanding me. Amen.

Contributed by Pastor Andrew Bartholomew

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Bible Reading

Read Job 12 and record any insights you gain here.

Call to Connection

Reflect on a time when you’ve lost your patience with people who don’t understand you. Today, resolve to speak and act only in love and patience to those around you.