Christian Middle

Photo by Kyle Broad on Upsplash

Our current circumstance of sheltering at home brings this expression, “Misery loves company” to mind rather readily. Yes, we’re all in this “same boat” but we can’t get together physically to moan about it! I suppose the expression could mean: “If I have to be miserable, I want everyone to suffer right along with me,” but that’s not the interpretation I’m going for. I’m missing the solace we would normally get from airing our grievances and then having a shoulder to cry on, a hand to hold, and a soothing hug from a loved one.

Of course, I hardly feel I have grounds for complaining. I’m neither in the fire (battling this disease), nor out in the cold (living alone). Every time I begin to contemplate my general sense of uneasiness, I remember how many are truly suffering at the moment, and I begin to chastise myself. Then, when I consider how fortunate I am to have so much time at my disposal, freed from my normal breakneck pace of appointments and duties, I berate myself again for my lack of organization and efficiency in getting my long list of back-burnered projects accomplished. Even low-level disquiet can become the devil’s playground. 

Even though the global scope of this pandemic remains unprecedented in world history, the shuttering of normal life has happened in the past. It’s just that we’ve never experienced it before. Is the answer to stop complaining and count our blessings?

Actually, it may be better to articulate our complaints first. 

This is what the Psalmists do. We may not hear them often in worship, but there are plenty of psalms that involve deep lamenting and ferocious anger towards God. Consider the following from Peterson’s The Message: “God, how long will it take for you to let up? … I’m tired of all this—so tired. My bed has been floating forty days and nights on the flood of my tears” (Psalm 6:3, 6); “Long enough, God—you’ve ignored me long enough” (Psalm 13:1); “Don’t turn a deaf ear when I call you, God” (Psalm 28:1). Don’t forget Jesus on the cross, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Psalm 22:1 NIV). 

The psalmists do not censor themselves in God’s presence. Why even bother since God already knows everything we’re feeling? Instead, they remind us that the Lord can take our honest anger and frustration, because each of these laments ends with the divine assurance that God attend to our pain. 

I have begun making a nightly practice of journaling in conversation with God about how the day has gone. It’s helping me feel less adrift. 

We’re in a time of dis-ease whether COVID-19 has personally affected us or not. It’s better acknowledged than ignored. God is willing to walk with us through this. We need to let the Lord be the company our misery can love.