Lament

Well I just had the rare and wonderful privilige of hearing a good friend of mine preach in church for her first time ever! It was just wonderful. Edwina had shared with me over the past few months how she had wanted to have a Lament service in church. By this, she means that so often we take our problems, hurts, angers and fears and run with them or hide them in our heart when we should really be bringing them to God. He is big enough for our pain, confusion and anger. She wanted to bring a message to the church on taking time to resolve our negative emotions, hurts and confusion by talking, crying or even wailing our pains to the Lord so that He can heal them, share in our difficulties and give us a new perspective.

In her sermon she talked about the biblical perspective on lamenting, from David in the Psalms, Lamentations and Christ Himself on the cross when He cried out 'My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?'

She differentiated between complaining and grumbling and true lamenting, whose focus is on seeking God in the hardship and truly wanting to be closer to him as opposed to venting or having a blame or rant session. (my own words) But in it all, we can be honest and transparent, with God and with one another. Because this is real. This is how we resolve. How we heal and move on and how we grow in our relationship and trust with the Lord.

We aren't promised a smooth ride in this life, but we are promised God's faithfulness and strength for every trial and hardship. Edwina closed her message by sharing of the old hymn, 'It is well with my soul.' The man who wrote the hymn had just lost a son to scarlet fever and four daughters who had drowned. Yet amazingly, he was able to write of God's peace and comfort in the midst of utter turmoil. His story is told in this rendition of the hymn: http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=T8_EfDqF7YI

I felt so blessed that God has arranged this little appointment for me, unbeknowns to myself or Edwina. I had been having a quiet time this morning and felt God compelling me to visit my old church whilst Activate was taking a break over Chrissy. We had planned to go on Christmas day, but it hadn't worked out. I took Hannah and went by myself which was a little scary for me, though it shouldn't be, but I do get a bit shy by myself sometimes. But I really felt the Lord urging me to go. He is so amazing, because it worked out beautifully. I was thrilled and honoured to see Edwina preach and she was really happy to see me there as she had shared her journey and perspective on lamenting with me over the year. I love how God arranges things so beautifully. It was a thoroughly wonderful day in the midst of a few difficult days. More about that in another blog, but for now, I just want to say well done to my dear friend and to praise God for how incredible He is, right down to the smallest details.

He is so there for us!