My hometown is nestled between emerald cow pastures, meandering roads, and tree-covered foothills. It’s most charming on bright, sunny days, but there aren’t many of those. The Finger Lakes region of New York State has one the highest ratios of cloud cover in America. The locals call it “cement sky.”

Many of us struggle with cement sky in our daily lives, and I’m not talking about the weather. We can relate to Job, who described his existence like this: “I walk in gloom, without sunlight” (v.28).

Job’s bleak outlook was partly because he believed God had ditched him. He said, “I cry to You, O God, but You don’t answer. I stand before You, but You don’t even look” (v.20). Although I see why Job felt that way, his feelings weren’t reality. God is always with us, especially when things look really grim. When we walk through the darkest valley, God is close beside us (Psalm 23:4).

Even if Job had taken refuge in God’s presence, he still had another problem. He felt cheated by his life circumstances. Job said, “Did I not weep for those in trouble? . . . So I looked for good, but evil came instead” (Job 30:25-26). Fortunately, God wasn’t finished with Job. As his buddy Elihu reminded him, “[God] will bring justice if only you will wait” (35:14).

It’s hard to wait when you’re restless; and understandably, Job confessed, “My heart is troubled and restless” (v.27). If that sounds familiar, remember Jesus’ promise, “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart” (John 14:27).

If you struggle with depression and despair, remember that God has not abandoned you, and He is not finished with the story of your life. Only He can replace your restlessness with peace that goes beyond our understanding, like sunlight breaking through a cement sky.