“We all want to know the answer to the question of why we experience brokenness. It is human nature to wrap our heads around why something so terrible could happen to us. But when we do not lean into lament to wrestle with God over these questions, we will often turn to blame.”-
Esther Fleece
He [the Lord] said to Cain, “What have you done? Listen! Your brother’s blood cries out to me from the ground.”- Genesis 4:10
In Chapter 3 (“The First Lament”) of No More Faking Fine, Esther Fleece talks about the first recorded lament in the Bible. We find that lament in Genesis 4:10.
Like Cain, when we experience brokenness, we impulsively blame ourselves, God, or others. Hence, we find it easier to be angry with someone or something than to feel like helpless victims.
However, even though Abel died, his blood cried out to God from the ground. Ms. Fleece applies this first biblical lament to us. She writes:
“Nothing can prevent our laments from reaching God’s ears. Even if everyone in the world ignores our cries and minimizes our pain, God hears us. Neither our offenders nor injustice, not even death, can silence our lamenting cries to God.”
Therefore, when others wrong us, knowing that God hears our laments brings us comfort. In addition, even if our offenders show no remorse over their actions, we must not mistakenly believe they’ve escaped the consequences of those actions. God brings justice in His own timing- a comfort to us.
Without a lamenting language with God, we’ll be restless wanderers like Cain. Rather, lamenting provides an open door:
” . . . lamenting actually opens the door that allows us to have a relationship with God right in the midst of our heartaches. . . . He wants us to use our laments to build greater intimacy with Him. . . . He is prepared to listen to us, to share our laments, and to offer us peace and comfort this world is not able to bring.”
Today’s question: How would you explain why we experience brokenness? Please share.
Tomorrow’s blog: “God receives our groans”
