I Can Tell God What’s Really Going On

“Get up, cry out in the night, even as the night begins. Pour out your heart like water in prayer to the Lord.” Lamentations 2:19 (NCV)

If I ever thought I had a bad day? Job would understand; he practically had a PhD in pain and loss.

In the very first chapter of Job, everything in his life fell apart. His response? “Job stood up, tore his robe in grief, and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground and worshiped” (Job 1:20 GW).

Notice that Job openly expressed his pain to God. When I experience pain, do I tell God exactly how I feel? What I'm learning is that It should be the first thing I do.

God can handle my anger and frustration. He can handle my emotions. Why? Because he gave them to me. I was made in his image, and he is an emotional God.

When a 2-year-old has a temper tantrum and pulls on my legs, I can handle that. In the same way, God is bigger than my emotions, and it’s okay to tell him exactly how I feel.

When I pray for a promotion but don’t get it, when a loved one walks out, or when I get a dreaded call saying, “It’s cancer,” I can tell God how I feel. I can say, “I’m mad. I’m upset. I’m frustrated.” God can handle my complaints, questions, fear, and grief. God’s love for me is bigger than all my emotions.

I remember my daughter would sometimes question my judgment—even though she knew I loved her and had more life experience. Still, I’d rather have an honest, gut-level conversation with her than have her stuff frustration and disappointment inside.

God is the same way! He would rather I wrestle with him in anger than walk away in detached apathy. 

When tragedy strikes, I don’t have to grin and bear it. Instead, go to my heavenly Father with my pain. “Get up, cry out in the night, even as the night begins. Pour out your heart like water in prayer to the Lord” (Lamentations 2:19 NCV).

In summary:

Lamentations 2:19 encourages me to pour out my heart to God in prayer—especially in pain. Job modeled this when he lost everything yet honestly expressed his grief to God. Like Job, I don't need to hide or suppress my emotions. God created me with feelings and is big enough to handle my anger, fear, grief, and frustration. When life falls apart, the best response isn’t to shut down emotionally but to bring everything—raw and unfiltered—to God. He values honest, heartfelt connection far more than quiet detachment. God’s love is bigger than my emotions, and He welcomes every part of me in prayer.

Bottom Line:

God can handle my raw emotions, and He wants me to bring my pain, anger, and grief to Him honestly in prayer—because He loves me and meets me there.