Learning The Lessons Of LamentPrimjer

Yesterday we read the account of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, where he withdraws from his disciples to pour out his heart to God. In his own words he was "overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death." Even though we know that Jesus is fully God, he was also fully human. And it was in his humanness that he faced his greatest struggles. But in his struggles, when life began to overwhelm him, Jesus had a pattern of turning to God by withdrawing to lonely places to pray. Often! 

This is the way of trust—to turn to God in whatever way we need to. And sometimes that will be in honest misery, in lament. In honest lament we choose to hold on—we choose to trust—when we’re not sure. We choose to trust when we don’t know. We choose to trust when we don’t understand. 

True lament is actually an affirmation of our trust in God no matter if we feel it or not. It’s a bold faith that says, “I’m in terrible pain, but I still choose to reach out for your love and your grace and your goodness.” 

Question: Do you feel that you can exercise this kind of trust in God during your suffering?

I hope that we might all withdraw to lonely places and pray more often.