Today's Scripture:

Lamentations 3:1-9, 19-24 I am the man who has seen affliction by the rod of the Lord’s wrath. He has driven me away and made me walk in darkness rather than light; indeed, he has turned his hand against me again and again, all day long. He has made my skin and my flesh grow old and has broken my bones. He has besieged me and surrounded me with bitterness and hardship. He has made me dwell in darkness like those long dead. He has walled me in so I cannot escape; he has weighed me down with chains. Even when I call out or cry for help, he shuts out my prayer. He has barred my way with blocks of stone; he has made my paths crooked. I remember my affliction and my wandering, the bitterness and the gall. I well remember them, and my soul is downcast within me. Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.”

Read: Reflect on a story in your life that pertains to this scripture.
When the Babylonians conquered Jerusalem and deported much of its population, some residents were left behind in terrible conditions in and around the shattered city. This book, attributed by many to Jeremiah, is the expression of their deep shame and grief over the destruction of their home and the struggle to understand how God could have allowed the city they loved to be so devastated. In chapter 3, we have the Prophet’s sorrow, which, at times, is so identified with the people that it could be the personified nation speaking. Though I cannot relate to my nation’s judgment and destruction because of personal and national sin, I can relate to the affliction and pain caused by my own sin and the sin around me. Whether hard times were caused by my actions or those of others, I am left asking “Why” questions, " How long will this last,” or “Don’t you care, Lord?”

Reflect: What is this scripture telling you during this season?
The scripture is teaching me the importance of lament. Lament is a form of honest communication with God because walking with Jesus involves not suppressing our emotions but reconciling our experiences with God’s truth and character. Lament is not merely complaining or venting, but it has a structure: 01–Bringing the burden to God. 02–Honestly pouring out the suffering before God. 03–Ask God to alleviate the suffering. 04–An expression of trust in God. This is the pattern of lament in scripture, and the prophet models it for us here. In our first set of scriptures, the prophet expresses his genuine feelings of pain and suffering to God and speaks of the hope that is IN God. Though his “soul is downcast within” him. He reminds himself of God’s character, history, and promises and then can say, “Therefore, I have hope.” He can declare, “Because of the Lord’s great love, we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”

Respond: How is this scripture calling you to respond?
To not suffer by myself when going through affliction. Scripture calls me to entrust my sufferings to God (1 Peter 2:23). Engaging in biblical lament means taking it to God, being honest, asking God for relief, and expressing trust in God. And afterward, even if things are not working out the way I want at the moment, I can declare with the prophet “The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him,     to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly     for the salvation of the Lord. (Lamentation 3:25-26)

About Jordan Goodie:
My wife, Katie, and kiddos Zoe (10), Naomi Grace, and Blaise (3 1/2) help keep my feet on the ground and laughter in my heart. I like reading, hiking, skiing, playing board games with friends, and spending time with my family.
I have been around Grace since 2009 when I married into the Grace family, and I have served here on staff since October 2022 as Director of Spiritual Formation, Disciple Groups, and Young Adults.