Month: March 2023

Awaken Us! A Psalm of Jenny’s Lament

March 20, 2023 / Jennifer Coleman / 0 Comments

Lord, How long?
So, so long have I waited.
I have longed, hungered,
And searched for You.

I have sought Your face O, Lord,
Not Your hem alone, but Your face.
My heart has longed after You,
After a look from Your eyes, after your face.

I have sought after You, O, Lord
While my enemies pointed at me and jeered.
They accused me again and again of sin,
They cast blame at my sorrowful, longing heart.

I wrestled without sleep.
I wept upon my bed.
I wailed to You, my Only Hope.
I waited day after day for You to turn my way.

I forgave.
I turned my cheek.
I remembered the saints of old,
And I prayed, and I prayed.

You answered, O, Lord.
You answered my groaning
With groans of Your own!
You answered!

Hear our prayers, O, Lord,
Don’t allow us to sleep in spiritual death.
Give light to our eyes,
Give us the Light of Your Son!

Open our eyes, O, Lord,
That we may see Your salvation,
That we may see the depth of Your love
At the Cross, O, Lord, at the cross!

Open our eyes, O, Lord,
That we may see Your Way,
Your Truth, Your Life;
Awaken our hearts to Your love!

Awaken us from the Curse of this earth,
Awaken us to the urgency of Your call.
Awaken us to heal the brokenhearted,
Awaken us to Your glory over all!

I will sing of Your goodness,
I will sing of Your saving love!
I will sing of Your glory!
I will sing until You awaken us all!

– Jenny Coleman

I’m in a bereaved parent discussion group that is studying “Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy” by Mark Vroegrop. We are learning how to live “in the tension of pain beyond belief and divine sovereignty beyond comprehension” (p. 84) by turning to the Lord following the pattern for lament modeled for us in Scripture . I modeled my lament after the passages below:

Psalm 13
1 How long, O LORD?
Will You forget me forever?
How long will You hide Your face from me?
2 How long must I wrestle in my soul,
with sorrow in my heart each day?
How long will my enemy dominate me?

3 Consider me and respond, O LORD my God.
Give light to my eyes, lest I sleep in death,
4 lest my enemy say, “I have overcome him,”
and my foes rejoice when I fall.

5 But I have trusted in Your loving devotion;
my heart will rejoice in Your salvation.
6 I will sing to the LORD,
for He has been good to me.

I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those sanctified by faith in Me.
Acts 26:17-18

Romans 8:18 I consider that our present sufferings are not comparable to the glory that will be revealed in us. 19 The creation waits in eager expectation for the revelation of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not by its own will, but because of the One who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God.

22 We know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until the present time. 23 Not only that, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in this hope we were saved; but hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he can already see? 25 But if we hope for what we do not yet see, we wait for it patiently.

26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know how we ought to pray, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groans too deep for words. 27 And He who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

Voices of saints through the centuries have cried out in lament. The whole creation groans. “Not only that, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. …In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know how we ought to pray, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groans too deep for words,” (Romans 8:23, 26).

To minimize suffering in this broken world is to diminish the great sacrifice of our Lord on the cross for us. To turn to the Lord with honest lament is to honor Him as the sovereign LORD of all.

Have you sought the Lord with tears? Have you longed, hungered and waited for Him with groans? Have you leaned into the groaning prayers of the Spirit? God “bends down to listen” (Psalm 116:2). “He is near to the brokenhearted,” (Psalm 34:18). He collects each tear in His bottle (Psalm 56:8).

Jesus, our great, empathetic high priest, who “In his life on earth made His prayers and requests with loud cries and tears to the One who could save Him from death, and was heard because of His reverence,” (Hebrews 5:7). And “is able to save completely those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to intercede for them,” (Hebrews 7:25).

A few quotes from “Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy” by Mark Vroegrop:

Trust is believing what you know to be true even though the facts of suffering might call that belief into question.Lament keeps us turning toward trust by giving us language to step into the wilderness between our painful reality and our hopeful longings.
Mark Vroegop, Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy, p. 77

Why is waiting so difficult? Because it feels as if we’re not doing anything. And that’s the point. You’re not doing anything, but God is. However, waiting is one of the greatest applications of the Christian faith. You are putting your trust in God, placing your hope in him, and expressing confidence that he is in control. Waiting puts us in an uncomfortable place where we’re out of control of our lives. Remember in chapter 4, when I called this “active patience”? That season is when God will shape and define us the most.
Mark Vroegop, Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy, p. 115

Lament is the language of a people who know the whole story-the gospel story. They know how the entrance of sin into the world brought death and suffering. As we conclude our look into Lamentations, it is a good reminder that the message of the gospel is where lament should lead. The sorrow of loss can lead us to the man of sorrows because Jesus is the answer to the cause of every pain.
MARK VROEGOP, DARK CLOUDS, DEEP MERCY, P. 150

“Too many people think real worship only means an upbeat and happy demeanor. But grief-filled prayers of pain while seeking God are among the deepest expressions of God-centered worship.”
Mark Vroegop. Dark Clouds Deep Mercy. p. 160

Singing songs of lament has been a very moving experience for me.

I pray that you might discover the grace of learning to turn to God in Biblical lament through your own sorrows. For as Jesus taught, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted” (Matthew 5: 3-4). 🙏🙏🙏💕

Much love,

Jenny Coleman

“You show me the path to life;
Your presence fills me with joy,
everlasting delight is at Your right hand”
– Psalms 16:11

Do Christians go to Heaven Immediately After Death?

March 10, 2023 / Jennifer Coleman / 2 Comments

There are some confusing passages in the Bible that talk about people “sleeping” when they are dead. I find it funny that even the disciples were confused when Jesus used this euphemism:

After He had said this, He told them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I am going there to wake him up.”

His disciples replied, “Lord, if he is sleeping, he will get better.” They thought that Jesus was talking about actual sleep, but He was speaking about the death of Lazarus.

So Jesus told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead.”
John 11:11-14

Sometimes when there are confusing beliefs, I choose to believe the thing that gives me the most joy and peace. In this case, I have chosen to believe that believers in Jesus immediately go to Heaven when they die. If I get to Heaven and learn that I was wrong, I’m okay with that because I know that God always chooses what is best.

Below are a few of the scriptures that I believe support the idea of Heaven immediately after death:

○ One of my favorite Biblical descriptions of the death of a believer is “he was gathered to his people.” I like how it sounds like going Home and being reunited with other believers. One example:

When Jacob had finished instructing his sons, he pulled his feet into the bed and breathed his last, and he was gathered to his people.
Genesis 49:33

○ This verse says we are “surrounded” by “witnesses” which sounds alive and active:

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off every encumbrance and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with endurance the race set out for us.
Hebrews 12:1

○ Shortly before raising Lazarus from the dead Jesus told Martha:

Living and believing and never dying sounds active… not skipping a beat.

○ This passage talks about how we would rather be at Home with the Lord than in our bodies and how being away from our earthly bodies means we will be at Home with the Lord. Our desire is for Home. It also talks about how we have a goal to please the Lord even when away from our body. Working towards the goal of pleasing Him implies activity once we leave our body:

So we are always confident, even though we know that as long as we live in these bodies we are not at home with the Lord. For we walk by faith, not by sight. Yes, we are fully confident, and we would rather be away from these earthly bodies, for then we will be at home with the Lord. So whether we are here in this body or away from this body, our goal is to please Him.
2 Corinthians 5:6-9

○ Paul describes departing as being with Christ:

I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far.
Philippians 1:23

○ Jesus tells a story about two men who died who are awake and speaking in Luke 16:19-31

○ Jesus told the repentant thief on the cross that he would be with Him “today” in Paradise:

And Jesus said to him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.”
Luke 23:43

○ There is a lot we can learn about Heaven from the Mount of Transfiguration story in Matthew 17:1-9, Mark 9:1–13 and Luke 9:28–36.

I’ll share what I gathered from just these two verses:

Suddenly two men, Moses and Elijah, began talking with Jesus. They appeared in glory and spoke about His departure, which He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem.
Luke 9:30-31

They appeared suddenly. They were visible. They lived in time and space. They had physical bodies that were seen by the disciples’ physical eyes and recognized as men.

“Moses and Elijah” were themselves, “Moses and Elijah.” They did not lose their identity. They were known by name. It amazes me that the disciples knew who Moses and Elijah were although they lived hundreds of years apart.

I believe we will recognize and know each other in Heaven. We will be ourselves, just glorified like Jesus because we will have seen Him.

Moses and Elijah had voices, knew Jesus, and spoke to Him. They were not “sleeping.”

They knew God’s plans and that Jesus was going to “accomplish” our salvation by dying on the cross for us and that the time was drawing near. They were aware of time and happenings on earth.

– The Bible doesn’t say explicitly, but I imagine that this meeting on the mount was arranged by God partially to encourage Jesus as He was facing the things to come in Jerusalem. Just as remembering that we are “surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses” helps us throw off everything that might encumber us and run the race set out for us with endurance, I imagine that seeing and talking to His old friends, Moses and Elijah, was a fresh reminder of the joy that enduring the cross would bring: saving and enjoying those who believe in Him for eternity (see Hebrews 12:1-2 below).

○ I believe the Bible teaches that saints in Heaven are cheering for us and praying for us (not sleeping) and that it brings all of Heaven joy to see us following Jesus’ example by enduring for the joy to come. I believe God, the angels and those “in the presence of God’s angels” rejoice over our repentance and endurance:

In the same way, I tell you that there will be more joy in Heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous ones who do not need to repent. …In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of God’s angels over one sinner who repents.”
Luke 15:7, 10

The eyes of the LORD search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him.
2 Chronicles 16:9

For our light and momentary affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory that is far beyond comparison.
2 Corinthians 4:17

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off every encumbrance and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with endurance the race set out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
Hebrews 12:1-3

○ I’ll share one last passage. I don’t understand everything about this passage, but love the imagery of our current bodies being like tents, temporary dwelling places. When they are “dismantled, we have a building from God, an eternal house in Heaven, not built by human hands.”:

1 Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is dismantled, we have a building from God, an eternal house in Heaven, not built by human hands. 2 For in this tent we groan, longing to be clothed with our Heavenly dwelling, 3 because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. 4 So while we are in this tent, we groan under our burdens, because we do not wish to be unclothed but clothed, so that our mortality may be swallowed up by life. 5 And God has prepared us for this very purpose and has given us the Spirit as a pledge of what is to come.
2 Corinthians 5:1-5

I love how it says our mortality will “be swallowed up by life.” I love that “God has prepared us for this very purpose” (not we ourselves). I love how He’s given us His “Spirit as a pledge.” I also love that it acknowledges the groaning and longing we feel for Heaven while living in these “earthly tents.” I believe that people who are not groaning and longing are not awake to the reality of how broken our world is. Romans 8:22-27 talks about how the whole creation groans, those who have the Spirit groan and the Spirit groans “as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.”

We groan and long for life in our heavenly dwelling. We are not longing for “sleep” or to be found naked. God has prepared us for an eternal house in Heaven, a heavenly dwelling, for our mortality to be swallowed up by life, for us to live and never die. In the meantime, when we don’t know how to pray as we ought, His Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groans too deep for words.

Father, we thank You for the gift of life and salvation through the gift of Your Son! We thank you for giving us Your Spirit as a pledge. We thank You for meeting our groans with the promise of eternal Home in Heaven with You and all who love You. Strengthen us as we commit ourselves fully to You and good Your pleasure.

Much love,

Jenny Coleman