“Everything happens for a reason.” “God’s got great things in store for you.” “God has a plan for your life.” These well-meant phrases were the bane of my existence when my husband endured an extended period of unemployment several years ago. I know when we say these things our hope is to point to God in the midst of disappointment, but in reality we minimize the person’s sorrow and eliminate their freedom to lament.

I’ve thought a lot about those years of endless upbeat words in the last few weeks, and wondered: Do Christians have a hard time expressing negative emotions?”

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