When you were in grade school, did you have a “Feelings Chart?” The Chart showed happy faces, sad faces, mad faces, and others. Or Maybe You had three faces attached to a stand with a happy face at the top, a straight face in the middle, and a sad face at the bottom. If you talked during class, you had to move your clothespin from the happy face down to the middle face, and of course, if you continued to misbehave, you would have to move it to the frown face at the bottom. We all are in various walks of life and different seasons. Some are going through beautiful seasons, and it seems like everything is flowing; the kids are doing great in school, promotions are happening at work, and so forth. Others may be in an ok season where life isn’t horrible, but perhaps a mix of the good and the bad. Some days seem to be better than others. Lastly, others may feel as if they can’t catch a break. The dog is messing up the house every chance you turn around. Every week your child is in the principal’s office for misbehaving, maybe marriage is a little rocky right now, and it just seems like bad things keep piling on top of each other one another after another. It’s like, when will I ever catch a break?

Job found himself in the latter situation. Bad things kept happening, and it was like he couldn’t catch a break. It was almost as if when he got the news about one thing, something else bad happened. Chapter three gives an insight into how Job was feeling. He was in deep anguish and despair; he cursed the day he had been born. It’s almost as if he wishes he wouldn’t have come into existence. Although this chapter is dark, I like how honest he is about his feelings. I also like how not once did he say he’s never going back to church, he’s done being Christian, or done with his relationship with God.

I know at times when we are in a dark season, we tend to want to pull away from God and be alone. The ironic thing is, technically, we’re never alone because God is always there with us. But we tend to want to stay in pain and stay away from the church and not read our Bibles. I encourage you to let the tears fall and feel how you feel. “For my groaning comes at the sight of my food, And my cries of despair are poured out like water” (Job 3:24). Don’t brush those feelings aside and get candid with God. Our dad is a God of compassion. I believe it breaks his heart when we’re hurting. He loves us so much because we are kids, and he doesn’t like to see us in pain. We must find scriptures to remind us that no matter what we experience on this earth, God loves and cares for us deeply. He also says that All things work for good. Although the situation may be painful, God can still work it out for good. “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28). We’re not thanking God for painful circumstance, but in it. “Lord, you are still good and gracious despite what I’m going through.” “Lord, this hurts right now, but I know you promise that even this will work out for my good.” It’s challenging because sometimes we don’t always understand why certain things happen. Remember, God is not afraid of your honesty. To build that relationship with God, we should be open and honest whether we are happy about something or sad about something. Open up to God and watch your relationship with him blossom. He will get you through those tough times because he loves you.