“This is our firm foundation in disequilibrium — a God so intimately intertwined with suffering that he transforms the very nature of suffering itself. Jesus gives us a new way to suffer. Christians can suffer with yet-attitudes — we can cross the line of vav — because we go through life with God as our faithful captain.”- Aubrey Sampson
“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.”- Lamentations 3:21-23 (NIV)
Aubrey Sampson concludes Chapter 8 of The Louder Song with this observation. In Lamentations 3:21, Jeremiah crosses the mysterious line of vav. The sixth letter of the Hebrew alphabet, vav = the hook, or tent-peg letter. And, it’s at this very moment of vav that Jeremiah hammers his stake into the ground.
Furthermore, as Jeremiah crosses vav, he breathes what Aubrey calls the most powerful word in all of Lamentations: yet. Through that word, the prophet moves from his painful ekahs to his only hope. Thus yet is:
- the driving point, the firm foundation of all laments
- the hope of God’s loving presence – even when we fail to sense Him
- found in God’s unchanging and steadfast love
- reflects the belief that even if things don’t go well with you, Jesus is enough
In conclusion, the author comments on the true meaning of yet:
“We tend to assume that God’s calling will equal our happiness or success or freely opened doors, but sometimes we walk through overwhelming situations and God says, ‘Hey, don’t panic, because this difficult place is precisely where I am going to meet you and reveal myself to you.’ This is where you will learn the true meaning of yet.’ ”
Today’s question: How is God your firm foundation in disequilibrium? Please share.
Tomorrow’s blog: Grief and loss – walking with people”
