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"So they sat down with him upon the ground seven days and seven nights, and none spake a word unto him: for they saw that his grief was very great." (Job 2:13)When calamity struck Job, his three closest friends Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar came to console him. At first, they did the right thing; except for their weeping with him, they were silent (Job 3:13). What can you say to a person whose children were killed? Of all Job's losses, that had to be the most painful. His physical affliction only added to his sorrow.As chapter 4 opens, they began to offer suggestions. They started off by advising him to confess his hidden sin. They did not know that this was a heavenly battle between Satan and God. None of them had the slightest idea of what was going on which had its start in the heavenly realm.Silence and weeping with him would have been their best gift, but their advice only added to his pain. Job had already searched his heart. He knew he wasn't perfect, but he also knew this was not punishment from the hand of God.When we attempt to comfort our friends in need, remember that some advice in a time of pain can often add to the pain they're experiencing. The very best comfort we can give is merely to be there to weep with them and to pray for the comfort of the Holy Spirit to flood their soul.There is still a heavenly war raging over the souls of men and women in these troublesome times in which we live. Just as God allowed Job to be tested and refined, so we may be tested and refined as well. The silent comfort of a concerned friend with his or her prayers can mean so much more than any well-wishing words on our part could ever express.Friends, we may not understand why God permits things to occur (like He did with Job) in our life or even in the life of someone else, but folks, we can always trust His heavenly mercy in the midst of those dire situations and, Praise God...........right up till the whole thing passes.