You Redeemed My Life

My eyes will flow unceasingly, without relief, until the Lord looks down from heaven and sees.

What I see brings grief to my soul because of all the women of my city.

Those who were my enemies without cause hunted me like a bird.

They tried to end my life in a pit and threw stones at me; the waters closed over my head, and I thought I was about to perish.

I called on your name, Lord, from the depths of the pit.

You heard my plea: “Do not close your ears to my cry for relief.”

You came near when I called you, and you said, “Do not fear.”

You, Lord, took up my case; you redeemed my life.

Lamentations 3:49-58

Lamenting does not mean that we are without hope; rather, it’s a way of being honest with God. It should be a familiar posture for Christians; about forty percent of the Psalms are psalms of lament, and in the book of Lamentations, God’s people cry out to Him after their city has been destroyed by invaders.

Lament is a legitimate response to the reality of suffering, and it engages God in the context of pain and trouble. Ultimately, lament is hopeful when we lament what is not right, we call ourselves and others to be active in seeking change.

We can trust God to bring something new out of our seasons of lament.

Our Daily Bread – August 10, 2018