A Sacred Grief
By Pastor Brian Crenshaw
In light of the tragedies and violence that have occurred over the past few weeks, I have had a tough time processing words to say and knowing what to offer you all as care. The public and graphic nature of many of these events is disturbing. They are also difficult to process as there have been attacks on Christians, children, political figures, innocent passengers, and those targeted while living their daily lives. In seasons of tragedy, we can often struggle for words.
The Psalms are a place to find refuge, and as Tish Harrison Warren describes, “when I couldn’t pray, the Psalms prayed for me”. Songs can also capture lament so well. “Lament” by Seacoast and “Psalm 4” by Poor Bishop Hooper (mentioned below) are hymns that capture the difficult question of “where is God” amidst our grief and yet our faithful response that “he is Good”.
Lament sits between pain and promise (Mark Vroegop)… the pain of grief and the promise that God is good and faithful. Events like these bring much anxiety and fear. “Peace” by Hillsong Young and Free is a wonderful song of prayerful acknowledgment that “you will stay true even in the chaos…I will remain still for I've known all along, our Jehovah Shalom.” It is a song I run to as I battle anxieties from within and from outside the walls of my own heart. I hope these songs will be an encouragement to you.
I also want to provide a tool that might be helpful as you have conversations with your teens and children. Many might have been exposed to graphic videos and could be hurting without you knowing. As parents, we should pursue our teens and children to ask them what they might know of these events and what they might have seen. We should be guides for them even if our own hearts are struggling. Below is an email from The Axis Team. They are a wonderful resource that equips parents and youth workers. "Lament is more than sadness-it is a sacred grief”.
Finally, please reach out to our elders and community group leaders. We are here to pray, talk with and lament as we walk through times like these at Wellspring.
May God be near to us and bring peace that surpasses all understanding in times where peace is difficult to find.
From Axis:
"What do you say to your kid? What if they have seen videos of violence before you could warn them? How do you process all of this?
Let your conversation with them be: Lament. Sit in the sadness and confusion. This is not a time for explanation, that can come later. This is a time to grieve. Let your logic rest and connect your emotions with your kids. Connect your redeemed hearts.
Consider letting the Psalms of lament speak to you, for you, and to your kids.
For me, the Psalms of lament, as sung by Poor Bishop Hooper, have spoken to my bones in times of despair. Jesse and Leah Roberts have gently put every Psalm to music, and on Spotify they have an entire playlist dedicated to the Psalms of lament. You can find it here. Consider starting with Psalm 4: “How long oh Lord, how long?”
Biblical lament is more than sadness—it is a sacred grief in the face of human violence, injustice, and the suffering of innocents. In Scripture, we see people crying out to God over violence: Abel slain by Cain, prophets witnessing oppression and bloodshed, psalms pouring out sorrow over defiled cities, ruined lives, and stolen dignity. The Bible does not sidestep the reality of evil: it gives voice to those who suffer, and wrestles with the silence of God in moments of deepest pain, often through song.
In the midst of violence, God is not indifferent, Jesus enters into suffering, and through lament, we hold on to the promise that one day tears will be wiped away and every wrong made right.
Grieving,
David and the Axis Team
PS: We have a Parent Guide to Grief and another Parent Guide to Talking about Death. You can always find these at Axis.org. For now, I recommend sitting in the Psalms of lament and letting them echo in your soul. “How long, oh Lord, how long?”
