Lamenting is a beautiful thing. There is something so transformative and freeing to be able to honestly and humbly come to God and say “I don’t get this. This hurts. Why is there so much pain in the world?” God is a loving and relational God who welcomes our pain. He welcomes our questions and cries.

Lamenting doesn’t mean that we love God any less or that we don’t believe that He is faithful and working everything together for His good; but it does mean that we know God cares and wants to listen to us in our pain and confusion. He cares for His people. He cares about black lives. His heart hurts for those experiencing injustice around the world and for those who have experienced it for far too long. He cares deeply about the lives of Geroge Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and so many more who have died in heartbreaking and unjust ways. God hears the cries of their families and holds them in his arms when they are suffering.

This week over Zoom, our Fullerton Free staff took time to pray, lament, and reflect on the injustices in our world. We took time to cry and ask questions. Some read beautiful pieces of scripture reflecting on pain and suffering (Jeremiah 5:21-31, Lam.1:16-17, 20-22, Psalm 6, Eccl. 3:1-8) some read written prayers and some wrote their own. It was a meaningful time for our staff to come together, process what is going on in our world and seek God through it all.

It may be hard to know what the “right” thing is to do right now, especially as it seems like the world is on fire around us. And I’m sure the “right” thing seems varied from person to person. Some are experiencing pain, some anger, some are confused and some may continue to be struggling to cope with the ongoing pandemic. No matter where you find yourself in this time, know that God is with you. He hears your cries and is with you in your pain, confusion or numbness. He cares deeply about you. However you are processing the current events happening in our world and wherever you find yourself emotionally and spiritually, I would encourage you to lean into Jesus. Ask Jesus to search your heart and transform and bring your attention away from anything that is not of Him. In order to change and love the world around us, we must first be changed and loving people.

It’s an interesting time in history to say the least. I’ve discussed with a lot of Christan friends on how to best get involved and their views on current policy or politics and we never really seem to come to a “right” answer. But the one right answer we have found common in all of our conversation is that we know we need more of Jesus. I would encourage you to not turn away from Jesus during this time but to press further into His grace, peace, love and strength. If you’re finding that difficult to do during this season, reach out and ask for help. Ask someone in your circle of friends or family or ask our church staff family. Let’s walk this journey as brothers and sisters in Christ together. Whatever your journey looks like, I pray that you are able to do so with the grace, peace, love and strength of Jesus. And I pray that your faith would turn into action for His glory. To Him be the glory.
Below is a lament I have written for George Floyd and our world.

A Lament for George Floyd and Our World
by Stephanie Rowan-Faris

Breathe on us O Lord
For we can barely breathe

We cannot stand seeing anymore injustice and violence
We cannot stand your silence

Where are you?
Are you angry too?
What are you thinking as you look down on us?
Are you grieving with us?

Does your heart break for him?
For his family?
For our nation?
For his daughter?

How could someone ask for so much strength
from a young girl?
People cheer when they hear her say
“My daddy changed the world”

But my heart just breaks
She shouldn’t need to know such strength
Her daddy may have changed the world
but her daddy should still be here

Does your heart break O God?
Do you hear our cries for justice and peace?
Do you hear Floyd’s family wailing in the streets?
Did you hear him when he was there with the police?

Do you hear the laments for all the other lives lost?
Do you hear the weeping of the mothers now sonless?
Do you hear them in their pain?
Do you see the ones that aren’t on tape?

O God, does your heart break for the man who cried out
“Help me, I cannot breathe”?

I know your heart breaks
And my heart breaks with you

When all around me seems dark and void of hope
I can look to the to The One who gave us all breath at the first