Gotta Go Through It

I am the man who has seen affliction under the rod of God’s wrath. He has driven me away and forced me to walk in darkness instead of light. Yes, he repeatedly turns his hand against me all day long. Lamentations 3:1-3

Devotion

When I began working in ministry here at Crossings, I started in our Kid’s Ministry as the Worship Pastor. For the 4s and 5s program time, we sang a song as a way to get them active before we began: “Bear Hunt.” The lyrics are deeper than they appear. Anytime the song mentions an obstacle: a wall, a river, or tall grass, it gives instructions on how to overcome them. “We can't go over it. We can't go under it. We can't go around it. We're just gonna have to go through it. We're gonna have to go through it.”

Sometimes in our faith journey, storms, obstacles, and difficulties come our way. They shape us. How we respond during these times, determines how we grow. We are often tempted with a quick fix to get out of pain or discomfort as quickly as possible. But most of the time, we just have to go through it. When we choose to lean into the Father, we are growing into the likeness of Christ. He is our great High Priest who is able to sympathize with our weakness and sufferings.

Lamentations is a heavy book. It’s right there in the name. The author (traditionally recognized as Jeremiah) is looking at a destroyed Jerusalem. In chapter 3 he says: "I am the man who has seen affliction under the rod of God’s wrath. He has driven me away and forced me to walk in darkness instead of light. Yes, he repeatedly turns his hand against me all day long” (vv 1-3).

Jeremiah doesn't sugarcoat it. He’s exhausted. He’s been "walled in" and "weighed down with chains" (v. 7). He even says God has become like a "lurking bear" or a "lion in hiding" to him (v. 10). Now, we usually don't talk like that in church. We tend to think that if we aren’t "blessed and highly favored," we must be doing something wrong. However, as St. Gregory of Nazianzus taught, lament isn't a lack of faith; it’s a form of honesty. You can’t heal a wound if you’re pretending it’s not there.

But, something shifts in verse 21. "Yet I call this to mind, and therefore I have hope: Because of the Lord’s faithful love we do not perish, for his mercies never end. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness!" (vv 21-23). Notice he doesn't say the storm is over. The city is still in ruins, but he reminds himself of the character of God.

John Wesley loved this idea of "prevenient grace"—the grace that is there before we even know we need it. Wesley often remarked that God’s mercy is not a stagnant pool; it’s a flowing stream. It’s "new every morning." It’s like a fresh pot of coffee for the soul, except it never runs out. "The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the person who seeks him. It is good to wait quietly for salvation from the Lord" (vv. 25-26).

In the middle of suffering, we shouldn't just run around trying to fix everything ourselves. Sometimes, the most "spiritual" thing you can do is sit still and wait for God to move. Stillness doesn’t mean inactivity. Stillness is a spiritual posture, one that takes time to form and strengthen. This is done through our reliance on the Holy Spirit.

The message of Lamentations 3 is simple but profound: Our "hope" is not the absence of "hurt." We have a God who allows us to cry, who listens to our complaints, but who also promises that the sun will rise again. As Jeremiah concludes this section: "For the Lord will not reject us forever. Even if he causes suffering, he will show compassion according to the abundance of his faithful love" (vv. 31-32).

So, if you’re in a season of "lamenting" today—whether it's health, family, or just the general chaos of the world—know that you are in good company. God’s mercies are being renewed for us every morning.

PRAYER

Prayer Heavenly Father, thank you for your mercy. Thank you for being present with us in our sufferings so we can know your heart better. Please help us to live in the power of your resurrection and to be reminded that it is you in us that makes us victorious. All praise and honor and victory is to you and for you! We praise you as our Lord and King. Amen

Jason White
Pastor, Worship - Edmond

Next Service Starts In

Devotion

Resources

Read More Devotions