There’s an old song that a lot of Christians know that says this: “It is well with my soul.” That’s a strange thing to sing, if you think about it. It doesn’t say “it is well with my life.” It doesn’t say “everything is going great.” It says something deeper—that even when your life is a crazy mess, you can still feel settled and peaceful on the inside.

Unfortunately, Jonah never understood that. Read Jonah chapter 4 and you’ll find a man pouting, mad at God, and throwing a bit of a temper tantrum. But here’s what’s totally amazing: Jonah was in the middle of one of the greatest stories ever written, and all he could feel was mad.

Sometimes we’re like that too. You didn’t make the team, so the whole year feels ruined. Your family moved, so nothing is fair. Your friend group changed, so everything is terrible. Those feelings are real, and God isn’t annoyed that you have them. But sometimes God is doing something good that we can’t see yet, right in the middle of the thing we’re upset about.

You can be sad about your circumstances and still be settled deep down, because Jesus is not going anywhere. Jonah may not have figured that you, but you can!

Take Action: Try a two-part prayer tonight. First, tell God exactly what you’re upset about. You don’t have to be polite. Be honest. Let it go. He can handle it. Then say the second part out loud: “But God, You are good, and I’m going to trust You with it.” Do the second part even if you don’t feel it yet. Feelings often follow your words.