•  Be quiet, sit still and listen to the person suffering (JOB 21:2) 
•  Just BE with the person rather than trying to fix their problem. 
•  Life is mystery - joy and sorrow deeply mingle.   
•  Don't try to come up with fatuous explanations for what is a mystery. 
•  Keep your explanations to yourself.
•  Blaming the person for their predicament simply causes more anguish.
•  No one except God knows the whole truth about the situation. 
•  A healthy reverence for God is true wisdom  (JOB 28:28) 
•  God is pleased with simple child-like faith in the face of suffering. 
•  God has compassion for his children (PSALM 103:13-14) 
•  We need a fresh experience of God (JOB 42:5-6. PSALM 73:1-28) 
•  In God's presence there is fulness of joy (PSALM 16:11)

Memorable Quotes from The Book of Job

Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I will depart. The LORD has given and the LORD has taken away. Blessed be the name of the LORD. (JOB 1:21)

Though he slay me, yet I will hope in him and argue my case before him. (JOB 13:15)

I know that my Redeemer lives and that in the end he will stand upon the earth. (JOB 19:25)

He knows the way I take. When he has tested me, I shall come forth as gold  (JOB 23:10)

The fear of the LORD is true wisdom; to forsake evil is true understanding. (JOB 28:28)

I had only heard about you before, but now I have seen you with my own eyes.
I take back everything I said and sit in dust and ashes to show my repentance. (JOB 42:5-6)

Questions

Q  What experience of suffering have you had?
Q  What did you find the hardest aspect of your suffering  -    physical pain or emotional anguish?
Q  What kinds of things helped and what hindered your attempts to cope with the suffering?
Q  Which of the lessons from The Book of Job can you identify with?

Further Reading

A classic book on the subject of suffering is CS Lewis THE PROBLEM OF PAIN.