The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song. Psalm 28:7.

What I feared has come upon me; what I dreaded has happened to me. I have no peace, no quietness; I have no rest, but only turmoil. Job 3:25-26.

In our chapter, Job 3, Job breaks the silence and speaks. Not only does he wish he was dead but that the day of his birth had never happened. Have you ever felt that way? In his despair from the constant affliction physically, he questions why. Why is light given to those in misery…why to those who long for death does it not come…why is life given to a man whose way is hidden, whom God has hedged in…v. 20, 21, 23. I find myself cringing at the starkness of his words…may those who curse days curse that day, may gloom and utter darkness claim it once more…v. 8, 5. I can only imagine his 3 friends cringing at his words as well and forming rebuttals. Reading this chapter reminds me of reading the Psalms where the psalmists pour forth despair so great it consumes us. Our instinct is to hide but Job is living this. Can we remember all he has lost suddenly and all he is suffering now and have compassion? Can we for others hurting?

I took this to God in prayer this morning and He reminded me He will never leave or forsake me and He never left Job or forsook him. God understands. There is no depth we can descend to that our God is not there with us. He was there to suffer all that mankind could do to Him…and loves and forgives. The light of His Love shines through the confusion of this world and brings hope. Job laid out for all to see his utter despair. God was there. He didn’t turn away. He won’t turn away when we are in despair. In all of our darkness God does not turn away. Can we give thanks for His steadfast Love? Can we sit with Him in silence trusting His Love will heal our bruised and hurting hearts and minds? Can we turn away from the confusion, the anger, the hate and despair of this world and with Him learn how to love? Satan would have us hate God and one another. Darkness. Have we had enough? God loves. Always.