“We were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself…” (2 Cor 1:8). God said to Jonah, “Is it right for you to be angry about the plant?” “It is,” he said. “And I’m so angry I wish I were dead.” (Jonah 4:9). “Day and night I have only tears for food” (Ps.42:3). “My heart was bitter, and I was all torn up inside. I was so foolish and ignorant— I must have seemed like a senseless animal to you. Yet I still belong to you…” (Ps.73:21-23)
Dear Jesus, the question is not if we get over-burdened like Paul, anger-peaked like Jonah, tear-fed like one of Korah’s sons, or bitter-hearted like Asaph. But where do we go when we do? Who can handle our mad-ness and sadness? Who can we trust? Until you return, trouble, tension, tares, temper, and tears remain with us. But so do you, Jesus… hallelujah, so do you.
Hold us tighter when like toddlers, we want to pull back from you in our pain and rage. Pursue us, when, like Jonah, fleeing seems the only journey to relief. Pour out fresh grace on us when we want to call down hot fire on others. Protect us, when in our moments of greatest vulnerability, Satan speaks to us the same words he spoke to Job, “Curse God, and die.” (Job. 2:9).
Though we may not feel “friendly” right now, thank you for good friends—loving sisters and brothers. One of them might be our greatest chance today to see your eyes, hear your voice, know your heart, experience your compassion. Or, perhaps, we’re to be that friend to a struggling friend. Life cannot be done alone. So Very Amen.