Caffeinated Crunchy Christian Moms

Read: Job 3-4

In Job 1–2, we read that Job loses almost everything. He is experiencing indescribable pain and sorrow. Yet even in the depths of his suffering, Job chooses to remain in God’s presence. While praising God, he cries out and wrestles honestly with his new reality. The pain Job experiences here is something I pray neither I nor any of you ever have to endure. However, sin is very real in this world, and in a world overrun by sin, bad things happen. We should do our best to lift ourselves, and one another, up in Christ.

As we move into Job 3–4, we see that Job is not entirely alone. He has friends, or acquaintances, with him during this difficult time. These chapters show us the importance of two things:

1. Put your faith in the Lord

2. The people you keep company with matter

• The people you associate with matter.
• The friends you choose matter.
• The person you marry matters.
• The people you raise your children to be matter.

Unfortunately, in this sinful world, we see so much pain, death, destruction, murder, and suicide. Suicide is one of those topics that is incredibly difficult to talk about. I truly believe that if more people had faith in Jesus Christ, hope in Him, and friends to remind them of that hope and love, we would see far less suicide. If pleasure wasn’t glorified in sin, and instead true joy was found in Christ, we wouldn’t feel as though our entire world was collapsing when something went wrong. I’ve felt heartbreak over things that, when compared to Job, seem minuscule. Yet I had people around me to lift me up, and I had faith in God and prayer to help pull me out of that dark place.

Being very real and raw here, I struggled with postpartum depression after both of my pregnancies. With my firstborn, it came after I eventually stopped breastfeeding and my hormones crashed. With my second, it happened immediately after birth; again, my hormones tanked. Thankfully, my husband was incredibly supportive. He helped me be honest about how I was feeling, encouraged me through the emotional waves, and made sure I spoke openly with my doctors, so they knew what was going on.

It is okay to rely on other people sometimes, especially in motherhood. I am so grateful that I could be honest with my husband and that he cared enough to make sure I had everything I needed to get through those dark and heavy seasons. I also spent time in prayer and leaned fully on God during those moments. I truly believe He carried me through.

Words matter more than we realize. Use your words to lift one another up. Job is reminded by his friend that he was once the one encouraging others.

“You yourself have instructed many, and you have strengthened the weak hands. Your words have upheld him who was stumbling, and you have made firm the feeble knees. But now it has come to you, and you are impatient; it touches you, and you are dismayed. Is not your fear of God your confidence, and the integrity of your ways your hope?” — Job 4:3–6

We were never meant to walk alone and scripture makes this clear. Faith in God and community with others are both essential. God designed us to need Him and one another.

“Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up.” – Ecclesiastes 4:9–10

If you are in a dark season, please know this:

• It is okay to ask for help.
• It is okay to lean on others.
• And it is okay to cry out to God honestly; just like Job did.

You are not weak for needing support. You are human. God meets us right where we are.

The below graph is a list of resources and numbers for any of my readers that may be struggling with depression, anxiety, postpartum specific anxiety and/or depression, grief, suicidal thoughts, self-harm, and/or emotional distress.

Country	Crisis Hotline	Emergency Number
United States	988 – Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (call or text)	911
Australia	13 11 14 – Lifeline Australia	000
Italy	199 284 284 – Telefono Amico Italia	112
New Zealand	0800 543 354 – Lifeline NZ 0508 828 865 – Suicide Crisis Helpline	111
Canada	1-833-456-4566 – Talk Suicide Canada	911
Mexico	800 472 7835 – SAPTEL	911
United Kingdom	116 123 – Samaritans	999

If You Are Elsewhere: Many countries are served by Befrienders Worldwide, a global network of crisis and suicide prevention hotlines: https://www.befrienders.org

You are not alone. These services exist to help when things feel unbearable. If you are struggling now, or think you might be, please call your country’s emergency number right away. You are in my thoughts and prayers.

Discussion Questions

Who has been someone in your life that “lifted you up” when you were falling? What did that support look and feel like?

A Note from the Author