We are particularly sensitive to cruel words when we are already weakened, alone, outnumbered. Somehow, although we may believe that what is said to us is not true, we cannot dismiss unkind words without being involved in a struggle which costs us painful effort. When we are already cast down this can be an exhausting experience even though we have little regard for the speaker, but how much more did Job feel this from his friends and from those who were so skilled in their speech! How much more when what they spoke of touched the most precious things of all to him, and pursued him into the last refuge of the soul, the place where he sought consolation from God! Cruel words break us because they generally aim for our most sensitive parts, and harm our spirit leaving us like those with broken bones. The truth is of central importance to a Christian and he must follow it wherever he thinks it leads. This is why it costs effort to disregard cleverly constructed but deceitful words.