Early in my faith, I had the dangerous belief that Christians were only supposed to be happy. And thus, when I experienced sadness, loneliness, fear, and depression, I was afraid to be honest about the pain. I identified with Brennan Manning in Ruthless Trust, “Sensing that if I bare my soul, I will be abandoned by my friends and ridiculed by my enemies, I remain in hiding, borrowing the cosmetic kit to put on my pretty face.” I ended up suffering in isolation.

Thankfully the more I study scripture and do inner healing work, the more I realize that God desires us to bring our full selves as we seek the Triune God. We are to bring our laments and our joys; our ugliness and our beauty. Furthermore, God gives us one another. We are called to weep with each other, rejoice with each other, and to build each other up. This is one of the most important parts of being the church.

I highly encourage you to read the lectionary texts this week. The texts remind me that the Bible is full of real people experiencing real life as they seek after the real God. The authors cry out to God in the midst of facing real and violent oppression from the Babylonian Empire. And yet, there is a glimpse of hope.

After saying things like, “How lonely sits the city that once was full of people!” and “She weeps bitterly in the night, with tears on her cheeks; among all her lovers she has no one to comfort her,” Jeremiah writes, "The LORD is my portion, therefore I will hope in him. The LORD is good to those who wait for him, to the soul that seeks him. It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD.”

I don’t know what you are facing today. I do know, God is big enough to handle your pain, your frustrations, and your grief. You are not alone. The living God is with you, fighting for you. We as a church family are here to pray for you, cheer you on, and carry the burden with you. Wait on the Lord. Our deliverer is coming.

Sincerely,
Pastor Coby

P.S. My favorite book that explores Lamentations is Prophetic Lament: A Call for Justice in Troubled Times by Soong-Chan Rah. It is an important discipleship tool.