This week’s devotional is written by Sarahí Pérez. Sarahí is born and raised in Northeast LA. She is a Resource Specialist Teacher with a background in behavior. 

Lament + Rejoice: From Suffering to Praise

Week 4 Lenten practice
by Sarahí Pérez

SCRIPTURE
Psalm 22:1-2, 21-22  

1 My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from my deliverance and from my words of groaning? 
2 My God, I cry by day, but you do not answer, by night, yet I have no rest.
21 Save me from the lion’s mouth, from the horns of the wild oxen. You answered me! 
22 I will proclaim your name to my brothers and sisters; I will praise you in the assembly. 

REFLECTION
Lament and rejoice intertwine in Psalm 22 from suffering to praise. If you recognize the words in bold we recognize the words of Jesus when he felt forsaken on the cross. Lament and rejoice can co-exist. As Jesus feels forsaken, feels so much pain, there is doubt, yet he does not lose faith. Jesus proclaims that God answers him as he passes on the cross. In the liminal place of praise and lament, we can still find joy in life.

I serve a community where DCFS is common and children exhibit their pain and trauma through maladaptive behaviors. Some kids don’t see their kids all day because their parents are working 2-3 jobs. I grew up as a child experiencing all sorts of trauma. Sometimes I slow down and I think, “If anybody had slowed down they would’ve seen how forsaken I was as a child.” So what I try to do is to build in kids the language to say what they feel. The following activity is to help you incorporate in your life what I incorporate in my classroom. Affirmations and scripture braided together. 

• I am LOVED, CHERISHED, and ADORED by GOD. 
• I am beautiful. 
• I am remarkably and marvelously made (Psalm 139:14) 
• I am resilient.
• Your grace is sufficient for me. (2 Corinthians 12:9) 
• Your power is made perfect in weakness. (2 Corinthians 12:9) 
• I am broken yet whole. 
• God will not despise my broken and humbled heart. (Psalm 51:17)
• I will give praise in the great assembly because of you. (Psalm 22:25) 

PRACTICE
Find a mirror in your home and speak one of these affirmations over yourself. 

Affirmations 

• I am LOVED, CHERISHED, and ADORED by GOD. 
• I am beautiful. 
• I am remarkably and marvelously made (Psalm 139:14) 
• I am resilient.
• Your grace is sufficient for me. (2 Corinthians 12:9) 
• Your power is made perfect in weakness. (2 Corinthians 12:9) 
• I am broken yet whole. 
• God will not despise my broken and humbled heart. (Psalm 51:17)
• I will give praise in the great assembly because of you. (Psalm 22:25)