You, however, smear me with lies; you are worthless physicians, all of you! ~ Job 14:4

“I have heard many things like these; you are miserable comforters, all of you! ~ Job 16:2

It turns out we humans are naturally inclined to think more negatively than positively — a tendency researchers call negativity bias. This is not mere folk psychology nor is it a fringe theory. There is a wealth of research to back this up. For instance, even the NIH (National Institute of Health) has published an article that has discussed this bias not only in adults but even in infancy. [1]

Now, from a Christian standpoint, this should come as no surprising. The Bible teaches that we are fallen and given our fallen natures, it should not be surprising that we have a propensity to process life negatively, instead of positively. 

Meaning… – You fill a glass halfway and ask someone if it’s half-full or half-empty. They say it’s a quarter-full. Welcome to the Fall.

We see this negative bias at work in the book of Job. (You think?)

In the book, Job goes through a series of devastating losses.  His three friends, Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophar show up to “comfort” him in his affliction, by giving him their take on things. And yes, it is negative. Job must have done something wrong to deserve his suffering. As such he calls them “miserable comforters” (Job 16:2).

The funny thing is that Job’s take is also off. If you look at his thinking, he at various points in his diatribes is of one piece with his friends. He will say similar things. I.e. Job is his own miserable comforter. 

And isn’t this how life so often is. We can be our own miserable comforters. We do not need the help of an Eliphaz, Bildad or Zophar. At the end of the day, we have our own skewed perceptions of reality running. 

So how do we avoid negativity and how do we avoid being our own miserable comforters?

The answer is found in Phil 4:8.

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. ~ Phil. 4:8

Endnote

1. Vaish, A., Grossmann, T., & Woodward, A. (2008). Not all emotions are created equal: The negativity bias in social-emotional development. Psychological Bulletin, 134(3), 383–403. https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-2909.134.3.383