SOAP Lamentations 4: Life Without Jesus

Life Without Jesus

Lamentations 4

This book in the Bible is a lament. It can be defined as a prayer that expresses sorrow, pain, and confusion. It is a long lament. I have to smile a bit as a think about this book of lament compared to my prayers. My laments to Jesus are not nearly as poetic…or long. But, I do have periods of times that I lament frequently. So, as I read this chapter again, I did struggle to find a verse to SOAP.

But now they are smeared with soot, unrecognizable in the street, Their bones sticking out, their skin dried out like old leather.

Lamentations 4:8 MSG

As I was reading each verse of this chapter it gave me a picture of life without Jesus. I’m sure that some of you that are reading this today have known Jesus for a long time and some have recently decided to live your life with Jesus.

I hope that we all agree that life with Jesus is full. It is full of joy that does not always match the circumstances. It is full of love where love is not deserved. It is full of grace that is not fully comprehendible. It is full of mercy that is freely given. It is full of peace in the midst of chaos.

This verse, as well as this whole chapter, gives powerful images of a life without Jesus. The life without Jesus that is pictured in this chapter is void of all goodness. It is a dark contrast to life with Jesus. The people who were once living for Jesus are now unrecognizable. They are unrecognizable inside and outside.

This chapter of lament is an important reminder of God’s goodness. His goodness is plentiful. It is also an important reminder that we can come to God with our laments. He will hear us. We do not have to be poetic in our prayers to Jesus. He treasures every word. He even treasure sounds that are not words:

Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because[a] the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good,[b] for those who are called according to his purpose.

Romans 8:26-28 ESV

Do you have a lament today? It is ok to lament. Jesus wants to hear your heart.

PRAYER: Jesus, thank you for hearing me and seeing me even when I am hiding from everything. It feels hard some days. I don’t want to care for others or care for myself. Some days I am not sure that I am worthy of the love that surrounds me and some days it is hard to recognized that love. I am so grateful for Your Word. Everyday that I read these printed Words You show me something new. You are always good. Thank you for this new day. Help me Jesus to show Your beautiful love to someone else today. In Jesus’ Name, Amen