Hope with Belief. We believe that God is the Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer of life. His actions towards us are always loving and good.
Our next question may be: “Can we suffer, grieve, struggle, weep and lament to the Glory of God?”
I’ve mentioned this book before, it provides one of the best understandings of joy and lament.
“Lament is the honest cry of a hurting heart wrestling with the paradox of pain and the promise of God’s goodness”[1]
Genuine lament brings together grief and hope.
John Chapter 11 tells us the story of the death of Lazarus.
Jesus hears that his friend is dying but delays his return. When He eventually reaches Bethany, Lazarus has died.
Jesus sees Mary, and the people with her, weeping. The account tells us that He was deeply moved in His spirit and greatly troubled. They said to Him, “Lord, come and see.” Then we have the brief but profound statement: “Jesus wept.”
Jesus feels, and expresses, deep grief and sadness born out of great affection. But this is not resignation or despair.
He had great hope in the future; knew the joy that was coming, yet still He wept.
Lazarus was brought back to life. Jesus says the reason was so that, “they may believe that You sent me”
So, again we need to conclude that all that God does is purposeful, not necessarily painless.
God loves His people and keeps His promises
The Triune God creates, rescues, redeems and renews and identifies with us.
He knows our destination and orchestrates our journey; He secures our past present and future.
Our Hope with Belief will result in action; we will put our faith in God’s ability to be God! every moment, every day.
Blessings
Brian
[1] Mark Vroegop, Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy: Discovering the Grace of Lament, (USA: Crossway, 2019), 26.