Press the arrow to listen to Jeremy Camp’s new song “There Will be a Day” while you read today’s devotional about friendship even after hurt.

Scripture
When Job prayed for his friends, the Lord restored his fortunes. In fact, the Lord gave him twice as much as before! Then all his brothers, sisters, and former friends came and feasted with him in his home. And they consoled him and comforted him because of all the trials the Lord had brought against him. And each of them brought him a gift of money and a gold ring. Job 42:10-11

Observation
Friends hurt Job more than the windstorm and firestorm that snatched all that he owned. And yet, at the end of his ordeal, Job discovered that friends, even the friends who had failed him, were the most precious thing he possessed.

It is a great person who can not just make a friend, but keep a friend when that friend has offended him. Job was just such a man. Though his friends had been miserable counselors, they were given another chance.

Application
It is easy to dismiss people in life and to delete them from our cell phone contacts. That is a safe but lonely way to live, without the need to embrace again those who have hurt us. But Job stretches us by praying for his miserable comrades. By that one act God blessed him and gathered in all of his family. In the end, Job died relationally rich.

Prayer
Father, some of those who have enriched me most in life have hurt me just as deeply. I take Job as my mentor and chose to lift each of them before your throne. I want to die relationally rich just as he did. Amen.