When Mordecai learned of all that had been done, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the city, wailing loudly and bitterly.
- Esther 4:1

In Chapter 3, a plan was put into motion to wreak genocide on the Jewish people. In today’s passage, we see Mordecai’s emotional response, his lament.

Throughout the scriptures, we see God’s people respond to hard situations and evil with visceral responses. God values and makes space for lament. So, when this genocide threatens Mordecai and everyone he loves, grief is a reasonable response.

For many of us, crisis moments bring responses like this to our hearts. We want to cry, cry out and lament. But we’re not sure we’re allowed to respond so emotionally. The broader culture and our Christian subcultures don’t always affirm emotionality.

But there’s something significantly healthy to an honest season of lament following a loss. We move through our grief to acceptance, hope and even joy. But we cannot skip the stage of grief (more on this tomorrow).

We want to invite you to experience the blessing of lament. How comfortable are you with lament in your own life and the lives of others?