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Open Doors recently published its annual report on Christian persecution around the world. According to this report, more than 365 million Christians suffer high levels of persecution and discrimination for their faith. One in seven Christians are persecuted worldwide. 4,998 Christians were murdered. 14,766 churches and Christian properties were attacked. For those who suffer because of their Christian faith, we lament.
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Oh, Lord of mercy, we raise our voices in lament, For persecuted Christians, their trials unbent. In lands where faith invites the wrath of hate, They endure the darkness, bearing a heavy weight.
Amidst the shadows of persecution’s grim decree, They stand as beacons of light, steadfast and free. Their voices silenced, their freedoms stripped away, Yet, in the face of adversity, they kneel and pray.
In the depths of suffering, they find their strength, Their faith unwavering, no matter the length. Through trials and tribulations, they cling to You, Oh, God of refuge, their hope renewed.
As tears fall like rain in the night’s embrace, Their cries ascend to Your throne, seeking grace. Grant them courage, Oh Lord, in their darkest hour, A shield of faith, a fortress of Your power.
For they are blessed, though persecuted they stand, Their inheritance secure in Your promised land. In the midst of anguish, let Your love shine bright, A beacon of hope in persecution’s blight.
Romans 8:35, 37-39 (NIV): “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Open Doors lists the 50 countries in the world where persecution of Christians is most prevalent. Mexico was 37th worst in the world. I have lived in Mexico for almost 19 years and have heard many stories of Christians being persecuted. A few years ago I met a young man who father was killed for preaching the gospel. The rest of the family had to flee their little village and their house and property was taken from them. According to the report the persecution primarily happens in remote, mountainous communities where people are reluctant to change their ancestral ways and hostile to missionaries who try to evangelize and to those who convert, and also in areas controlled by drug cartels.
Foundation For His Ministry supports missionaries who try to share the Gospel in these areas. One of those missionaries is Mabel. She ministers in the Sierra Norte region of Oaxaca. She recently told me about a plan to build a church in the small town of Tepanzacoalco. At first the community leaders were ok with it, but later told the small congregation that they could not construct a building and forbid Mabel to ever come back. She also told me about some believers in a little pueblo called Yagila, who had built a church, and that it had been burnt down by people opposed to Christianity.
Below is a prayer from Open Doors for persecuted Christians in Mexico.
Heavenly Father, thank You for the incredible courage of our family in Mexico who speak out against violence and promote peace. Protect them, we pray, and continue to embolden them in their ministries. May their words and lives touch the hearts of criminal leaders, so they turn from violence and hatred to follow You. Strengthen the faith of those living in indigenous communities; encourage them with your love and show them how You are powerfully at work in their neighborhoods. May our sisters and brothers in Mexico not be despondent as opposition increases, but may they be empowered to grow in their faith and witness. Bring peace, justice and wise governance to all areas of Mexico. Amen.
Mexico highway 190 passes in front of FFHM’s home for needy children in Oaxaca, Mexico. For the last six months or so, hundreds of migrants from Central America and South America have walked down that highway making their way to the United States. Many are motivated to make the long trek by fear of dying in their homeland, oppression, economic downturns or simply a hope of a better life. I see mostly men, but also a lot of women and children, almost everyday, walking, walking, walking north, down Mexico highway 190. Here is a lament for them.
Oh, Sovereign God, we lift our voices in lament, For those who flee, in anguish, their homelands rent. In lands of strife, where war’s cruel embrace, Forces hearts to abandon, seeking a safer space.
In shadows of oppression, where fear takes its toll, Families shattered, dreams crushed, a heavy toll. They embark on a journey, through the unknown, Desperate souls, seeking a place to call their own.
Through perilous seas and treacherous lands they roam, Hoping for refuge, a glimpse of a welcoming home. Children, wide-eyed, their innocence scarred, By the harshness of a world deeply marred.
Oh, God of mercy, hear our solemn cry, For those who suffer, beneath the unforgiving sky. May your compassion guide them through the night, A beacon of hope, a source of eternal light.
Grant strength to the weary, solace to the pained, A haven of peace, where love is regained. In the midst of chaos, let justice prevail, And may the winds of freedom fill each sail.
May nations unite with hearts compassionate, To ease the burdens of those in a dire state. In this lament, we seek your divine grace, For a world where all can find a dwelling place.
Oh, Comforter Divine, embrace those in despair, Bring healing to wounds, and answer every prayer. In the symphony of sorrow, let hope resound, Until every refugee’s feet find solid ground.
“I was a stranger, and you took me in.” Matthew 25:35
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Lord God, help us to remember those who tonight will go to sleep unfed and unwelcome,
strangers in foreign lands, people who have fled for their lives and are far from their homes.
We lift up to you those who are escaping persecution and conflict, having fled death, torture or ruthless exploitation.
So many carry wounds, mental and physical. So many have suffered greatly.
Lord Jesus, give us more of your compassion for their plight, soften our hearts to their situation,
and help us follow your lead in seeking justice and mercy on their behalf.
We pray for an end to the wars, poverty and human rights abuses that drive desperate people to become refugees in the first place.
We give thanks for people working in troubled countries and ask for more of
your blessing so we can bring life, dignity and hope to those that remain.
We thank you that you are Lord of all the earth and all its people are loved by you.
We pray these things in the name of your Son who loves us and gave his life for us. For all of us.
I have lived and worked at a home for needy children for almost 19 years. For most of the kids, one of their greatest needs is for a father who loves them. For the last two years only one biological father has come to visit his children here on a regular basis. Every year we have a big party for young ladies who are celebrating their 15th birthday. Last year I noticed one birthday girl who didn’t seem to be enjoying herself so much. I asked her what was wrong. She told me she was sad because her father didn’t come. This lament is for all the children in the world whose fathers don’t show up.
In the sacred space of lament, my heart echoes the cries of fatherless children, In a world where innocence collides with the harshness of affliction. Orphaned souls wandering through the shadows, Their pain a silent symphony, a tale of unspoken sorrows.
Oh Lord, Creator of families, hear our plea, For the fatherless children, longing for love on bended knee. In the absence of earthly protection and care, Wrap them in Your arms, their burdens to bear.
Their journey marked by an ache, a void so deep, In the silence of the night, they often weep. Aching for a father’s guidance, a tender embrace, Yearning for love’s warmth, a comforting grace.
In this lament, we lift up the broken stories, Of children orphaned, their lives filled with worries. Facing a world that seems cold and unkind, In their struggles and pain, Your mercy, may they find.
May the Church rise with open arms wide, To embrace the fatherless, be a family by their side. A reflection of Your love, pure and divine, In the midst of brokenness, let Your light brightly shine.
As we ponder the depth of their despair, Let our hearts be moved to love and care. For in the arms of compassion, a healing balm, Fatherless children find solace, sweet and calm.
Psalm 68:5-6 (NIV):
“A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling. God sets the lonely in families, he leads out the prisoners with singing.”
God in your mercy, hear our cry for children throughout the world who have no father, due to war, death from sickness, or abandonment. You are a compassionate heavenly Father who longs to embrace every child who lives day by day without tender, loving care from an earthly father. Thank you for ministries like Foundation For His Ministry who come alongside the fatherless to love them, meet their physical needs, and most importantly, show them Your love and invite them to trust You to heal their broken hearts and help them flourish by walking through life with You. Amen.
Oh Lord, my soul cries out for the injustice that scars our world, A mournful song echoing the cries of those whose stories often go untold. In the corners of society where oppression takes its hold, We lift our voices in anguish, longing for a justice manifold.
Lord, in the face of systemic wrongs and blatant disregard, We grieve for those whose lives are marred. The oppressed, the marginalized, their voices suppressed, In the labyrinth of injustice, may Your light manifest.
As tears fall like rain for those denied their rights, For the ones overlooked, trapped in societal fights. In the courtrooms of indifference, where fairness is denied, Grant us the courage to stand, to speak, to abide.
In this lament, we confront the harsh reality, Of a world where prejudice distorts morality. Racial divides, economic disparities stark, In the lament’s cadence, we embark.
Proverbs 31:8-9 (NIV)
“Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.”
May our actions reflect Your call to defend, The rights of the oppressed until injustice meets its end. In this lament, may we find the strength to pursue, A world transformed by Your justice, bright and true.
My first blog post was January 1, 2013. I call my blog To Enjoy God, and for 10 years I have been writing about how God loves us and wants us to be happy. That idea moves me, stimulates me and keeps me going from day to day. That idea is on almost every page of the Bible, if you look hard enough. But there is another concept found throughout scripture that most of us would rather ignore for the most part, including me, and that is LAMENT. Many times a season of lament is the dark tunnel that people have to go through before they come out into the sunlight of God’s peace and joy.
This year I want to write about lament, ponder lament, read laments in the Bible and elsewhere and share laments in this blog. 52 laments is my goal, one for every week. Laments that take a broad look at a dark, sinful, painful world, and laments that consider the heart of one lonely child. Laments that speak to the issues of war and violence, and laments that lean into anxiety and fear.
Lamenting is not a popular thing to do. Many don’t know exactly what a lament is. I like this definition of lament:
In a Christian context, lament refers to a passionate expression of grief, sorrow, or mourning. It is a form of prayer or song that acknowledges pain, suffering, or injustice, while also turning to God with a sense of trust and hope. Lamentations in the Bible, especially in the Psalms, exemplify this expression of deep emotion and a plea for God’s mercy and intervention in difficult circumstances. Lament is seen as a way for believers to honestly bring their struggles before God while maintaining faith in His goodness and sovereignty.
Here is my first lament offering for 2024.
In the quiet chambers of my heart, I lament, O Lord, For the brokenness that stains a world deeply scarred. A fractured landscape of pain and strife, A symphony of suffering, echoing through life.
In the quiet corners where shadows dwell, Broken dreams and stories too painful to tell. Nations at war, hearts torn apart, A reflection of a world far from Your heart.
The cries of the oppressed, the marginalized unheard, In the brokenness of systems, justice deferred. Poverty’s grip, a relentless hold, A tale of inequality, stark and bold.
Nature groans, creation in despair, Exploited and wounded, it bears and forbears. Environmental echoes of our reckless ways, In the brokenness of ecosystems, we see our strays.
In this lament, Lord, I lift my gaze, To Your mercy and love that never decays. For in the brokenness, there’s a glimmer of grace, A divine plan unfolding, a redemptive embrace.
May our hands be instruments of healing and peace, In the brokenness, may compassion increase. Restore what’s been shattered, make all things new, For in Your love, redemption breaks through.
In this lament, I send up my plea, For a world made whole, where all are free. May Your kingdom come, Your will be done, In the midst of brokenness, let Your victory be won.
Psalm 34:18 (NIV):
“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”
In the midst of shattered dreams and harsh realities, we turn to the assurance that God is near. His presence is a balm for the brokenhearted, and in His closeness, we find hope and reconciliation. As we lament the brokenness, may we trust in the promise that the Lord is intimately connected to those who bear the weight of a wounded world.
To Enjoy God 