We find in the Bible that people not only lamented about themselves and their enemies, they also lamented about God. Even though our God is King of Kings, He allows His people to express their honest questions, feelings and thoughts, and their doubts and disappointments, even though these may contradict what He tells them and wants them to know. The more open we are with a person about what we truly feel and think, the more vulnerable we become. And, this gives us more opportunity to be closer to the person with whom we are opening up. God wants covenant partners who are able to express what they feel and think.

Many of us have experienced disappointment, hurt, and pain as it relates to our relationships with others. In marriage, we long for the happily-ever-after ending, but sometimes it’s separation and divorce. If we are single, we dream of a perfect someone out there, only he or she never arrives. Parents are not always what we hope they would be. Our friends betray us. We often expect people to meet our core needs and longings, but only God can truly meet these needs on the deepest level

Loneliness is the pain and emptiness of being alone. We weren't created for it.

We weren't meant for it. What if our loneliness, instead of something to be avoided, might actually be the vehicle to the life of connection and fullness for which we were created?

Many of us have experienced disappointment, hurt, and pain as it relates to our relationships with others. In marriage, we long for the happily-ever-after ending, but sometimes it’s separation and divorce. If we are single, we dream of a perfect someone out there, only he or she never arrives. Parents are not always what we hope they would be. Our friends betray us. We often expect people to meet our core needs and longings, but only God can truly meet these needs on the deepest level.

Loneliness is the pain and emptiness of being alone. We weren't created for it. We weren't meant for it. What if our loneliness, instead of something to be avoided, might actually be the vehicle to the life of connection and fullness for which we were created?

Anxiety in general is characterized by a persistent, excessive, unrealistic worry about everyday things. But, the presence of anxiety does not equal a lack of faith. Being “better” at being a Christian does not make anxiety go away. We need to consider the idea that God can use our anxiety and fear as a way to tether us more closely to Him. God is the ultimate non-anxious presence, the person who has a calming influence on anxiety.

There are so many people for whom life is not okay. Divorce. Anxiety. Depression. Disappointment. Problems with children. Loss of job. Financial weight. Crushing guilt. So often it's just beneath the surface, and we cry out, "Is there some place I can go where I can admit it's not okay?" Yes, the land of Uz, the place where very bad things happen to a very good man named Job. The central question in the Book of Job is, "Could a human being hold on to God, faith, love, and goodness when it does not seem to pay off at all?"

Anxiety in general is characterized by a persistent, excessive, unrealistic worry about everyday things. But, the presence of anxiety does not equal a lack of faith. Being “better” at being a Christian does not make anxiety go away. We need to consider the idea that God can use our anxiety and fear as a way to tether us more closely to Him. God is the ultimate non-anxious presence, the person who has a calming influence on anxiety.

There are so many people for whom life is not okay. Divorce. Anxiety. Depression. Disappointment. Problems with children. Loss of job. Financial weight. Crushing guilt. So often it's just beneath the surface, and we cry out, "Is there some place I can go where I can admit it's not okay?" Yes, the land of Uz, the place where very bad things happen to a very good man named Job. The central question in the Book of Job is, "Could a human being hold on to God, faith, love, and goodness when it does not seem to pay off at all?"

Palm Sunday/ Mark Putman