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April 5 Wednesday Weeping

Thoughts on lament

Oh, my heart. It’s as if every day I must grow in my capacity for sorrow. Sure, there is joy and happiness and good times, yet increasingly, I find myself mourning the state of this world. This is when I am sometimes most thankful that this world is not my home. It is full of brokenness, hurt, evil and chaos. Without the assurance and hope of what is to come, I might drown in the sea of sorrow that issues from my heart. Over the last couple of years, I have been encouraged to read through the Psalms each month. This equates to 5 Psalms a day in most months. This practice has been a comfort and healing balm to my soul. The language is rich in emotion and while divinely inspired, they lend themselves to our very human experiences. This year, as I am reading, I imagine Jesus reciting these words to His Father in private prayer, or using the verses as an instructional tool with His disciples. This has helped me to remember Christ as larger than myself, since I am constantly tempted to make this glorious Word all about me.

Another thing I appreciate about the Psalms is how emotionally honest each author is. There are Psalms that focus on praise, fear, danger, depression, justice, remembrance and other common-to-all-human experiences.

Making space

On Wednesdays, I would like to focus on lament. As I have allowed space in my own soul to mourn, grieve, restlessly sigh and otherwise grapple with the obvious hurt in this world, I thought it might be helpful to invite others to this space. I anticipate each week to take a slightly different format. Some weeks I can imagine I may want to add more comment or thoughts than another. Also, I know myself, and using words during mourning or sorrow can be very difficult. This space will simply be fluid in its format, but constant in the use of the Word and the Spirit to acknowledge the hurt of this fallen world and the pain of my exile. While lament is necessary, the beautiful truth evident in the Psalms is the temporary nature of our suffering. This shouldn’t minimize our pain, yet it does point us to our beautiful and loving Father, and the Hope He offers us. Even Paul, in the New Testament, talks of the temporary and light suffering that transforms into eternal glory (2 Cor 4:17).

This week:

I grieve for the deep divisions among people, and that these divisions have worked their way into the Church.

I mourn for Nashville.

Oh, I cry for our disdain of authority and what it means in our lives.

I am sad for the broken relationships in my life.

I hurt for children and others who are bullied.

I hate the grip of depression, comparison, loneliness and unhappiness that leads one to take his/her life.

I acknowledge the sadness and grief that death leaves behind.

I am sorry that misplaced fear is such a demanding motivator and cruel taskmaster.

I hate how our language has been weaponized and escalated to the point where words are violence.

Come soon, Lord

A prayer, based on Psalm 5

O Lord, You hear my words and tune into my deepest thoughts. I know You listen to me, My Savior and King, and so I will keep talking to You. You and I will talk in the morning first thing! And I will look up to You and direct all of my words to You. It helps me to remember that You do not take pleasure in wickedness, and evil cannot live with You. You cut down the boastful and hate those who work sin. Ultimately, You will destroy liars because You utterly despise the lying and wicked man. Yet, when I take thought of myself, I will come into Your Presence in the great abundance of Your mercy, found in Jesus. In right fear of You, I worship You in spirit and truth as You desire. Continue to lead me in right paths and make Your ways straight under my feet.

In light of Your mercy, when I consider the wicked, there is no righteousness found in their mouths, inside them they carry destruction. The mouths of the evil are as disgusting and rotten as the grave, and yet flattering words roll off their tongues. O Lord, that You would pronounce them guilty and rightly judge their rebellion by casting them out in their sin and letting them fall by their own perverted standards! Even as I desire Your justice, I ask that You would let everyone rejoice who puts their trust in You. I ask that You let them always shout for joy at Your covering. You, Father bless those who are found in Christ and You surround them with Your favor as with a shield.

Thank You for the privilege to acknowledge Your perfect justice and trusting You with my hurts and sufferings. I praise you that You desire all to repent and come to the right knowledge of Your Son, Jesus, and how one day, regardless of man’s decision, every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord. I leave my lament and my hurts with You, knowing You are handling everything according to Your perfect character and beautiful will. Even so, come quickly, Lord Jesus.

Amen.

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