My mom gave me a book a couple of weeks ago, written by a woman whose son was killed in a car accident just a few short weeks after he turned 16. I’m nearly halfway through it. It’s refreshing, heart-breaking, honest. Already, I know that I will recommend it to others who are grieving.

I read this passage tonight. It’s from the author’s journal in an entry written just ten days after her son’s death. No cliches, no glossing over things, no easy-believism here. Just aching honesty. She describes exactly where I am now.

“July 16. Please help me trust you again. You are leading me to the story of Job.

“Job 1:1-5 Job’s family was obviously a close one. They often had each other over. Job prayed for his children regularly because he feared they may have had sin in their hearts.

“Job 1:20 With your [God’s] permission, Satan takes everything from Job, including his ten children. Job falls to the ground and worships.

“Job 2:20 After Job’s wife urges him to curse God and die, Job asks, “Shall we accept good from God and not trouble [also]?

“We hear so much about the patience of Job, but I don’t see it. What I see is a broken-hearted man striving to trust the One who is sovereign over every detail of his life, the One who could have stopped these horrific events from stripping Job of everything and everyone. After describing some of the mysteries and pains of life, he exclaims the very words that express my own soul: “What I feared has come upon me. What I dreaded has happened to me. I have no peace, no quietness; I have no rest, but only turmoil. (Job 3:25-26)

“Thank you, Job, for your honest response to horrific circumstances.”

Excerpted from “Treasures in Darkness: A Grieving Mother Shares Her Heart” by Sharon Betters, chapter 6.