Hope doesn’t begin where pain ends; it begins where honesty does. For our special Ash Wednesday Service, We open the door on weariness from a broken world, and let Psalm 13 teach us how to bring unfiltered grief to God without losing our grip on joy. Along the way we sit with Job’s protest, David’s hunted years, and Jesus’ own cry of abandonment to confront a hard truth: faithfulness doesn’t exempt us from suffering. It shapes us through it.
You’ll hear why escapism and cynicism both fail the soul, and how lament can coexist with resilient action: planting gardens though weeds will come, serving neighbors though systems disappoint, loving enemies though hatred seeks a louder stage. This is not about plastered smiles or denial; it’s about learning a deeper song that can be sung in the dark.
We also reflect on mortality through the lens of Ash Wednesday, not as a morbid detour but as a clarifying gift. Life is brief; eternity is real; and that clarity frees us to spend our days on what lasts—worship, justice, mercy, and a joy rooted in Christ rather than outcomes. If you’re asking “How long, O Lord?” and wondering how to keep going, this conversation offers Scripture, story, and a path toward steadfast hope.
