O Lord, how long shall I cry for help,  and you will not listen?  Or cry to you “Violence!”  and you will not save?  Why do you make me see wrongdoing  and look at trouble?  Destruction and violence are before me;  strife and contention arise.  So the law becomes slack,  and justice never prevails.  The wicked surround the righteous;  therefore judgment comes forth perverted. 

— Habbakuk 1.2-4

There are plenty of inspirational verses in the Bible that we like to throw around, and for good reason: scripture gives us hope. Yet, verses like the ones above also tell us that it’s okay to lament, to be angry and to let God know how we really feel. Verses like these tell us there is real suffering in the world and gives us permission to voice our frustration and anger and pain to our Creator.

I’m often trying to avoid suffering, like pretty much everyone else. No one wants to suffer, but that doesn’t mean we’ll escape it. Often times, our suffering comes at the hands of others, out of our control and thrust violently upon us, forcing us to experience the pain and anguish of selfishness, impulsiveness, and pure evil. Our suffering is never really fair.

Christ suffered as well, carrying his cross, marching up a hill to his own execution after being ridiculed, tortured, and shamed. “Destruction and violence are before me; strife and contention arise,” could have been Christ’s prayer of lament to his Father as he suffered injustice. Similarly, this could be our prayer as well. While I would have preferred it never had to happen, I do find some comfort knowing that Christ suffered, and, as a result, knows me intimately when I’m suffering, when injustice flows my way and I have no other recourse but to cry out to my Father with lament as well.

The good news that Christ proclaimed as he walked the land of injustice is that the Kingdom of God has come, is here, and will come. In this kingdom, justice will be restored. Our King will wipe away our tears and judge our oppressors with righteousness. This kingdom is in direct opposition to the kingdom of evil in the present world. The suffering Christ has destroyed death through his resurrection. So, for us, suffering lasts for the night, but, of course, joy comes in the morning.

Do not fret because of the wicked;  do not be envious of wrongdoers,  for they will soon fade like the grass  and wither like the green herb. 

— Psalm 37.1-2