2016 Belmont University Lenten GuideSample

Lament and blame, followed by hope and submission. This is the dichotomy of emotions experienced in this section of Lamentations. Both are necessary portions of the story of redemption. As nursing majors, we are taught to watch out for indicators suggesting a high risk of suicide in patients. Generally, those include self-perceptions of worthlessness, thoughts of hopelessness and a preoccupation with death. In many ways, these are the thoughts innervating the day between Christ’s death and His resurrection. It’s always astounding and revealing to think of these dark thoughts as a part of the process of resurrection. If we are considered to have died and risen again with Christ, then we should expect these to be a part of our stories. The Lamenter does not mince words concerning God, saying, “Even when I call out or cry for help, He shuts out my prayer” (Lam.3:9). People, this is in God’s Bible! This should cause us to shudder and question and wrestle. God inspired someone to write His truth in Lamentations, and those words are written correctly. We should also be comforted by these things. We have died with Christ, we are not yet home and Christ understands those emotions. Christ Himself cried out on the cross, asking the Father why He forsook His beloved Son. We are known by a God whose love was displayed by Him taking on our hopelessness. The grave is our reminder of earthly hopelessness. Yet, we cannot remain here in thoughts of darkness. To do so would be a lie and our loss. We have hope. The Lamenter has assurance: “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail” (3:22). Despite our doubts and questions, do we believe this? Are we able to honestly say to God “It seems you reject my prayers” while acknowledging “Great is your faithfulness” (3:23)? This day of waiting is perhaps the day that exposes our inability to trust in God’s good promises. Hope is a reality that we can often deny because of our world of apparent darkness. We are called to lament; we are given the words and examples to follow in expressing our sorrows. Yet, the last part of this passage of Lamentations does not end in sorrow, as the author writes: “I say to myself, ‘The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for Him’” (3:24). Friends, let us wait. DANIEL LOPEZ Sophomore Nursing