Jesus and Lament

Reading: Mark 15:33-34

Devotional: Even Jesus experienced the depths of lament on the cross. His cry, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" shows us that bringing our pain to God is not a lack of faith—it's an expression of deep trust. Jesus, quoting Psalm 22, demonstrates that lament has always been part of the believer's vocabulary. When we struggle with doubt, pain, or feeling abandoned, we're not failing spiritually—we're following in the footsteps of Christ Himself.

Jesus' lament on the cross validates every honest prayer we've ever prayed in the darkness. He understands what it feels like when God seems silent, when hope feels distant, when circumstances overwhelm us. Yet even in His deepest anguish, Jesus entrusted Himself to the Father. This echoes the movement we see in David's psalms—from cry to trust, from despair to surrendered hope.

Like Hagar in the wilderness, who declared God "the God who sees" (El Roi), we can trust that God sees us completely in our suffering. He doesn't just see our circumstances; He sees our hearts. Jesus' experience on the cross proves that God doesn't abandon us in our darkest moments—He enters into them with us.

Reflection Question: How does knowing that Jesus Himself lamented change your perspective on your own struggles and honest prayers?

Action Step: Practice "incarnational prayer" this week by following Christ's example of honest lament. When facing difficulty, resist the urge to immediately spiritualize your pain or find the lesson. Instead, first bring your raw emotions directly to God as Jesus did. Spend time in prayer simply naming your struggles without trying to fix them or find meaning in them yet—let lament do its work of connecting your heart to God's heart.

Quote

"Jesus shows us that it is possible to hold onto God even when we cannot feel him, even when it seems like he isn't there." - Tish Harrison Warren, Prayer in the Night