This week has been difficult on many levels, some of it my doing, and some things I have no control over. This is why I find it interesting and so very God, that on Sunday my pastor was in the book of Job. Job did nothing to incur the trials he faced, the loss, devastation, saddness and sickness. What I find very beautiful about Job is that he did not have the hindsight that we have been given in the Bible, God’s words to us. Job did not have the book of Job to reflect on, as he listened to bad advice and personal opinions from those who were supposedly his friends. Yet, despite it all, Job believed in God and trusted Him.

Job gives us an example of lamenting, a speech where we tell God what is on our hearts, the gritty, dirty truth of injustice, where we ask God why we are in this valley, and we fill Him in on the things we don’t understand, while knowing that God is still faithful, even in our darkness. Here’s what lamenting isn’t: whining, nor is it unrighteous anger. Lamenting is a “language of people who believe in God’s sovereignty, but live in a world of tragedy” (Mark Vroegop, Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy). You see, we can be in despair; we can feel pain and discouragement, and we can bring all of that to God. He is not afraid of our questions or our lamenting. He wants us to come to Him because He is the answer to our needs.

So, friends, if you’re walking through the midst of a storm, you don’t understand, cry out to God. Bring Him your pain, your anger, your confusion, because God understands your heart, knows that you love Him, that you want His will for your life. He will have compassion on your pain because He is not afraid of it. He loves you. His compassion is new every morning. He won’t allow your pain and anger to consume you.

“Because of the Lord’s great love, we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness!” (Lamentations 3:22-23).

So, what am I thankful for today? That my Father has compassion on my pain.