The Heart Cries Out

Pain is not always seen.

We cannot go around and “see” all the pain someone is in. It would make life easier. At other times it would make things way more complicated.

Pain will come out eventually.

I believe this to be true because we were not meant to carry the pain silently. If we do not process and let it out we may find many years later the pain swelling to the surface uncontrollably.

Biblical lamenting honors pain, God’s character, and our healing.

As we open us Job 3 we need to see this as a song of lament. Many of our Psalms are consider lament. Lamentations is a whole book of lamenting what is going on. We need not believe God is scared with our pain or the words we use to describe it.

Job utters what he may not believe.

This is important for us to remember of others in their pain. He talks about divinationers and Leviathans.

Death is the great equalizer.

Job desires death because to him it would mean no more pain. Death is the great equalizer as he says all must go that way. I don’t believe was suicidal but instead longed for peace.

Suicide is a response to pain.

We as the people of God need not be scared of the word “suicide”. It is hard. It is difficult. It creates a lot of questions and pain for many. But we can step into those spaces. From what I can tell Scripture has only two explicit references to suicide: King Saul at the end of his life, and Judas Iscariot.

Peace is absent for many in this world.

As we have tensions around the world we also have tensions in teh heart.

Trust God’s protection of grace.

Verse 23 talks about the hedges of God.

Jesus overcomes life and death.

This is important. I am not certain how much, if any, hope Job had beyond death. Most cultures had a sense of the afterlife but it wasn’t always good or redemption oriented.

Revelation 1:17–18 NIV

When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.

We have the hope, peace, and grace of Jesus!