From Suffering through Lament toward Hope

Oasis-of-Hope-Wait-Watch-Pain-Healing-Lament

In this edition of Oasis of Hope, Laura J. Boggess, Vaneetha Rendal Risner, Emily J. Marits, Karen Fendick, and Michelle Ortega explore those times when words fail us, when in spite of our circumstances, in the midst of pain and confusion, even when our situation doesn’t change, we choose to be still and know that He is God.

“Wait,” writes Karin Fendick, “Now that’s word worth pondering. We are all waiting. Even creation itself is waiting.”

Emily J. Maurits adds, “It is hard being a Watcher (caregiver)… It is lonely, because every illness is different. No situation is the same.”

And Vaneetha Rendell Risner says, “I do know that God has done a deeper healing in my life because of my disability.”

WAITING IS ONE OF THE MOST DIFFICULT JOBS OF HOPE

Laura J. Boggess says it like this, “…even in sorrow we have a luminous hope.“

René Breue writes, “Lament is suffering turned into prayer. It’s the worship of people who feel out of balance and out of place.”

“This,” spills Michelle Ortega into poetry, “is what agony wants: for my own pain to get in the way, for the chance to look away.”

But our “[t]ears are prayers too. They travel to God when we can’t speak.” Psalm 56:8

“God is not only the God of the sufferers but the God who suffers. …
It is said of God that no one can behold his face and live.
I always thought this meant that no one could see his splendor and live.
A friend said perhaps it meant that no one could see his sorrow and live.
Or perhaps his sorrow is splendor. …
Instead of explaining our suffering God shares it.”
~Nicholas Wolterstorff

IN THIS ISSUE

We pray that God will use these articles to help you on your journey from suffering through lament to hope. In this issue of Oasis of Hope, you will find:

Trust and Wonder of Lament, by Laura J. Boggess
Why Doesn’t God Heal Everyone, by Vaneetha Rendall Risner
Watcher – Caregiver, by Emily Maurits
Wait • Poetry Prompt, by Karin Fendick
Elegy • This is What Agony Wants, by Michelle Ortega

Trust and Wonder of Lament

Lament cuts through insincerity, unveils pretense and leads to trust and wonder. Because true worship involves bringing every aspect of our lives before God.

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God has done a deeper healing in my life because of my disability. ~ Vaneetha Rendall Risner

Why Doesn't God Heal Everyone?

My friends suggested I go to the meeting, but I was resistant. I had been to healing services before. Each time I had expected a miraculous healing. Each time I believed it would happen. Each time I had returned disappointed.

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One is community and the other is God. Emily J.M.

Caregiver • Watcher

For years I never considered that the label “Caregiver“ belonged to me. It seemed too formal, too restrictive, too important for what I did to help my chronically ill mum.

Hugs and housework and understanding.

Surely those didn’t deserve such a label?

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Wait. Now that's a word worth pondering. We are all waiting. Even creation ... is waiting." Karin Fendick

Wait • Poetry Prompt

I sat silent in the newness of day, my Bible reading complete, journal open, asking the Lord what He wanted to share with me. I was feeling impatient with the pain that lingered in my back, also restless for face-to-face connection during this time of social distancing.

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This is what agony wants ... the chance to look away. ~ Michelle Ortega

Elegy • This is What Agony Wants

I strain to understand what’s happened since I saw her last week. This is what agony wants: for my own pain to get in the way, for the chance to look away.

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Prayer Pond

You're invited to the Prayer Pond, your safe harbor. This is where you can share your prayer requests, updates, and shouts of praise. Whether a request, praise, lament, suffering, loss, hope, grief, or joy, each prayer ripples far beyond this day and the boundaries of our world. #PrayItForward by praying for others.

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Oasis of Hope • Wait. Watch. Pain. Healing. Lament.