Fifteen years ago, I was young and idealistic.
I was on mission for Jesus—literally.
I was in the orientation week before a year of full-time ministry.
My faith was real. And it was strong.
It had already held me through loss and betrayal.
Though not yet through the grown-up anxiety that I’d meet the next year.
Fifteen years ago, innocence shattered.
The world as we knew it was changed.
And I was challenged to write a lament.
I tried.
Looking back, it feels simplistic.
Too chirpy and hopeful.
I had not yet wailed on my knees.
I had whined and fussed in my adolescent angst,
But I had not yet ugly cried over a little one gone too soon.
I had not yet stifled sobs over missing someone so hard that it physically hurt.
I had not yet screamed at Jesus in my car with hot, angry tears puddling in my lap.
Y’all, I feel like I could write a lament today.
Not for me. Not for my babies.
But for dear ones that I have come to love.
Jesus, we don’t know how to do this.
And we are so far from knowing how to do this well.
This has been my prayer a lot lately.
To a God who isn’t scared of my ugly cries or my screaming.
To a God who is big enough to take them all.
For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses…
Our fumbling, inadequate words.
Our hard, honest questions.
Our big feelings.
But we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin.
Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence
Honestly. Boldly. With all our mess.
So that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. (Hebrews 4)
Not easy answers. Not quick fixes.
But the presence and patience and grace of a God who sympathizes with our weaknesses.
A God who isn’t offended by our chirpy, hopeful prayers.
The ones that feel too simplistic in retrospect.
A God who isn’t scared of our ugly cries. Our screaming.
A God who hears our laments.