Process of Friendship?

 Job 22-25

As I read today's OYCB reading, I sense a different attitude coming out of Job and the two friends who spoke today. What is happening? Instead of sarcastic accusations, I am seeing today more empathy.

Is it possible that Job's and his friends' are working some things out? Is it possible they are now asking the hard questions? Is it possible they are genuinely trying to figure out what is going on instead of dogmatically making harsh blanket statements?

What I see today is real friendship. Yes, the words have been harsh and perhaps completely overbearing in accusations and sarcasm, but doesn't that happen sometimes with our closest friends? In our closest relationships it is all too easy to become impatient - but isn't that a sign of growth in the relationship? Job's and his friends' expectations of each other manifested at first (and they were high expectations), but now we are seeing a different tone - more of an objectivity - more of an accord that "we have problem but we are not sure what it really is."

May we all be patient with the story of Job and our understanding of it. We will know when we have accomplished this when we see redemption in the story for all parties involved - particularly Job praying for his friends in the end...

Father, help us - help me to see the cycle of relationship in the story of Job. I understand there is much more than just this in the story, but suffice it today that I would see the humanity of Job and his friends as they process together the events in which they find themselves.