I never intended to write a part 3 to the Lamenting blogs that came out at the beginning of Lamentations, but I thought it was appropriate after last Sunday. If I couldn’t get the words out, or make sense, maybe this will help.
God has never forgotten His people. In the middle of our pain we sometimes accuse Him of doing so, much like a child accuses a parent of hating them when they can’t have candy for dinner. As I shared on Sunday, I am not a parent, though I have really wanted to be. My wife and I have tried for years (and years and years)…so I actually wonder how a parent feels when their child says crazy things like “you don’t love me”, “you hate me” or even “I hate you.”
On one side I am sure it’s humorous, as when my friend’s child Mason thinks that when his parent’s let someone else play with one of his toys he will never get it back and he goes into full meltdown mode (if you have never seen it, it’s pretty funny). But when words like “I hate you” come out, even though they are stupid and untrue words, and a parent has to know, it still must sting a little. There has to be something in the back of a parents mind that says, “look, I know you are a child…but really, after all I do to make sure you are safe, fed, loved, cared for…really?”
When I hear people say things like, “I don’t believe in Jesus anymore,” I think, “really?” I wonder how God thinks, or even feels, about that. His Son, the only way for us to be redeemed, sacrificed out of love so we no longer need to be lost and alone…and His kids think they are so smart and can handle life on their own and say “I don’t believe in Jesus.”
There is tragedy in the world, unimaginable pain, a sense of hopelessness and loss…and yet we say to the only one who brings meaning to our pain, covers our hopelessness, and makes sense of the loss…we say to Him, that we don’t need Him? What we are acting like are spoiled kids who cry: God didn’t give me candy for dinner, therefore He does not exist; when we know in core of our bones that He does exist.
Sometimes when people say words of lament like this, it is because of some ‘feeling’ they used to have but no longer do. But love is not based on feelings, it is based upon choice. Our God chose to love us and seek us when there was nothing lovely about us. Romans 5:8 …but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. God’s love is action, it rescues His children, God remembers, pays attention, and sees His child and will bring him home (Lam 5:1).
As we approach Easter let us remember that our God has not, nor will He ever, forget His children. Even in the midst of hardship and suffering, which is central to a Christians understanding because of the cross, God does not promise to spare us from it, but will walk through it with us, holding His child, never letting go.
Throw the tantrum if you need to, but God will remember you, He has always paid attention, and sees you as you really are. God’s words are not iffy truths to take or leave, they are the very words of life.
What a great God…Happy Good Friday; and Easter.
