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Today, I read Job 17–20, where Job continues to argue with his so-called “friends.” This part of the Bible might be where the saying “With friends like these, who needs enemies?” comes from. Job keeps defending himself, saying he’s innocent, while his friends accuse him of being wicked and sinful. Instead of helping, they make his suffering worse by tearing him down with their words.

But in the middle of all this negativity, Job says one of the most powerful lines in the Bible:

“I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the earth. And after my skin has been thus destroyed, yet in my flesh I shall see God” (Job 19:25–26).

This verse shows Job’s amazing faith. Even though he’s going through the worst time of his life, he trusts that God is alive and will one day make everything right. When we go through tough times, we should have the same kind of confidence. If we’ve humbled ourselves before God and asked the Holy Spirit to guide us, we can trust that God’s love and justice will never fail.

Still, that wasn’t my main takeaway from today’s reading. In chapter 18, one of Job’s friends, Bildad, keeps accusing Job of doing wrong. This made me think about how easy it is for us to judge other people when they’re struggling. Sometimes, we even talk about them behind their backs. At least Job’s friends spoke to him directly, but their words still hurt deeply.

Here’s what I learned: If we don’t have proof that someone has done wrong, we should give them the benefit of the doubt—or just stay quiet. Job’s friends kept accusing him even though they had no real evidence. They only made things worse by “tormenting” him with their words (Job 19:2).

Jesus’s words in Matthew 7:1–3 remind us why this is so important:

“Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?”

Here’s my takeaway: Be a good friend. Ask questions that help someone who’s struggling to think about their life and relationship with Christ. If you see bad behavior, lovingly confront it when it’s clear. But if you don’t know the full story and have no proof of wrongdoing, offer encouragement and comfort instead of criticism. And remember, staying silent is often the wiser, kinder choice.