“God is our refuge and strength,
An ever-present help in trouble.
Therefore, we will not fear, though the earth give way
And the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
Though its waters roar and foam
And the mountains quake with their surging.” Psalm 46:1-3
Psalm 46 opens with what sounds like a natural disaster. As I read this, I could not help but think of the recent effects of hurricane Helene in which people in Western Carolina experienced mudslides down mountains and waters rising over the roofs of their homes. You do not have to look far to hear about those who lost their homes, loved ones, and perhaps their sense of security. No one would be surprised to hear grumbling nor lamenting. But do we really know the difference between the two?
Lamenting, by definition, is a passionate expression of grief or sorrow such as a long or loud cry from a person who has experienced severe pain or loss. Grumbling or complaining, on the other hand, means to express dissatisfaction or annoyance about something. After some honest self-reflection, I was convicted by how much grumbling I do over seemingly trivial matters like the weather, traffic, or not having anything to wear! While there is an entire book of the bible dedicated to lamenting, there are also several scriptures regarding grumbling.
“Do everything without grumbling,” (Phil 2:14)
“‘Stop grumbling among yourselves’, Jesus answered,” (John 6:43)
“Offer hospitality without grumbling.” (1 Peter 4:9)
Everything without grumbling? Seriously? 1 Corinthians 10 provides some insight for us. Paul writes about the Israelites who had experienced God’s supernatural provision during their time in the wilderness…supernatural food, water from a rock, etc. And yet, they grumbled. One expositor claims that it was because they were in agreement with something this was contrary to God’s will. They had lost faith, so they declared hopelessness with their mouths. Since the power of the tongue contains life and death, when we grumble or complain, we are speaking negative prophecies over our lives and situations.
However, when we lament, it helps us through our suffering by reminding our hearts that we can trust God’s purposes that may not yet have been revealed. The pain our friends in Western NC are experiencing is very real, but not all hope is lost. Charles Spurgeon once said, “Fear not the storm, it brings healing in its wings, and when Jesus is with you in the vessel the tempest only hastens the ship to its desired haven.” To the person going through devastation, this may be difficult at best to comprehend. Therefore, we point them to immediate hope to help them get through today. We give them space to cry out to God, to grieve, and to “passionately express their sorrow.” And we speak God’s Word into their pain and grief, reminding them of His promise to walk with them through it and to restore His people to Himself.
I was in awe by an interview given by a woman who lost her parents and 7-year-old son in the flooding waters in Western NC. She shared her deep grief and sorrow and through her tears said, “I’m so proud of my son, because in his last moments, he wasn’t screaming for me. He was screaming, ‘Jesus, Jesus, save me. Jesus, I hear you. Jesus, I’m calling upon you.” That, my friends, is lamenting. The mother also shared about the moments when she was being held under the waters by branches and debris and remembers crying out to God only to hear Him tell her to “Be still and know that I am God.” As she stopped fighting against the current, she emerged to the surface and was able to be rescued. Thanks be to God.
Friends, going back to the beginning, let us be reminded again that God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. He is also our Comforter, Healer, Provider, and Protector. Let’s learn to bring our suffering and sin to the Lord, crying out to God in repentance with a desperate need for Him. And may our hope be strengthened by the assurance of God’s faithfulness.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for your faithfulness. In the midst of pain when we feel trapped, weighed down, afraid, and exhausted, let us cry out to You. Remind us of the many ways you have been faithful to us in the past. Help us to call to mind Your promises. Allow us to feel your arms wrapped around us comforting us. Thank you that your steadfast love never ceases. Even when we cannot understand the “why”, help us to trust that your ways are higher than ours and that you are working all things for our good and your Glory. Be glorified in us this day. Amen.
-Pamela Adkins – learn more about working with Pamela here!
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