Process the emotions of pain all the way through

The typical internal reaction to pain and suffering is to do whatever it takes to cause the pain and suffering to go away.  This natural internal reaction gets in the way of this third marker on the pathway of more fully experiencing and understanding God in the season of pain. The third marker is fully and thoroughly engaging with the emotions that are lodged in one’s heart.

The Book of Job offers substantial biblical support for the idea of processing the emotions of pain fully and thoroughly. Job’s journey through intense suffering demonstrates the importance of fully engaging with and working through one’s emotional pain. Here are key points from the Book of Job that support the notion of processing emotions all the way through:

Job’s Persistent Expression of Pain

Job begins his lament by cursing the day of his birth, openly expressing his profound despair. This initial outpouring of grief sets the stage for his ongoing emotional journey. Job’s willingness to fully articulate his pain highlights the necessity of expressing deep emotions as part of processing them.

Job 3:1-3 “After this, Job opened his mouth and cursed the day of his birth. He said: ‘May the day of my birth perish, and the night that said, “A boy is conceived!”’”

Job explicitly states that he will not hold back his complaints. His decision to speak out in the anguish of his spirit indicates that processing emotions involves fully articulating and confronting them.

Job 7:11“Therefore I will not keep silent; I will speak out in the anguish of my spirit. I will complain in the bitterness of my soul.”

2. Job’s Continued Struggle with His Emotions

Job questions God about the reasons for his suffering, expressing his confusion and frustration. He does not shy away from the depth of his emotional turmoil, showing that processing pain involves wrestling with these intense feelings.

Job 10:1-3 “I loathe my very life; therefore I will give free rein to my complaint and speak out in the bitterness of my soul. I say to God: Do not condemn me, but tell me what charges you have against me.”

Job acknowledges that his complaints are directed towards God, reflecting his struggle with his suffering and the importance of continuing to express and work through these emotions.

Job 21:4 “Is my complaint directed to a human being? Why should I not be impatient?”

3. The Role of Reflection and Dialogue

Job reflects on his past prosperity and the contrast with his current suffering. This reflective process is crucial for understanding and processing his pain fully.

Job 29:2-5 “How I long for the months gone by, for the days when God watched over me, when his lamp shone on my head and by his light I walked through darkness!”

4. Job’s Experience of Divine Response

God responds to Job’s suffering with a series of questions about the creation and the natural order, which serves to broaden Job’s perspective on his suffering. This divine dialogue illustrates that processing pain can also involve seeking a broader understanding and confronting the larger existential questions.

Job 38:4-7 “Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation? Tell me, if you understand. Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know! Who stretched a measuring line across it? On what were its footings set, or who laid its cornerstone—while the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy?”

5. Job’s Restoration and Reconciliation

Job’s confession and repentance signify a resolution and a new understanding of his suffering. His processing of emotions leads to a deeper relationship with God and a restored life, demonstrating that working through pain can result in spiritual and personal growth.

Job 42:5-6 “My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you. Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes.”

6. Job’s Role in Interceding for His Friends

Job’s act of praying for his friends, despite his own suffering, indicates that his processing of pain includes moving beyond his own experience to a place of compassion and forgiveness.

Job 42:10 “After Job had prayed for his friends, the Lord restored his fortunes and gave him twice as much as he had before.”

Summary

The Book of Job supports the idea of processing emotions of pain thoroughly through Job’s persistent and honest expression of his grief, confusion, and questions. Job’s journey involves not only articulating his suffering but also reflecting on his experiences, seeking understanding, and ultimately reaching a place of reconciliation and spiritual growth. This comprehensive engagement with his emotions demonstrates that fully processing pain involves confronting, expressing, and ultimately integrating one’s feelings to find healing and insight.