Embracing Lament and Action in a Broken World

Devotional

Day 1: Lamenting Evil and Brokenness in the World

In a world filled with tragedy, violence, and heartbreak, it is both biblical and right to grieve and lament the evil we see and experience. God invites us to bring our sadness, anger, and confusion to Him, not to hide or suppress these emotions, but to process them in His presence and with His people. The Psalms are full of honest cries to God, showing us that lament is a faithful response to a world that is not as it should be. When we mourn with those who mourn, we acknowledge the reality of sin and brokenness, and we join the long line of believers who have brought their pain before the Lord, trusting that He sees, He knows, and He cares. [04:05]

Psalm 13:1-2 (ESV)
How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever?
How long will you hide your face from me?
How long must I take counsel in my soul
and have sorrow in my heart all the day?
How long shall my enemy be exalted over me?

Reflection: What is one specific pain or injustice in the world that weighs on your heart today? Take a few minutes to honestly lament this before God, expressing your grief and trusting Him with your sorrow.

Day 2: Don’t Get Distracted—Focus on God’s Greater Mission

It is easy to become consumed by the urgent, the political, or the personal, losing sight of the greater mission God has given us. Jesus calls us to lift our eyes above the distractions of this world—whether politics, career, or comfort—and to live as citizens of His eternal kingdom. Our primary allegiance is to Christ, not to any earthly system or agenda. When we focus on the Lamb instead of the donkey or the elephant, we remember that Jesus is the true King who will reign forever, and we are called to participate in His redemptive work, bringing light and hope to a broken world. [15:56]

Philippians 2:9-11 (ESV)
Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name,
so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you are most tempted to be distracted from God’s mission? How can you intentionally refocus your attention on Christ and His kingdom today?

Day 3: Don’t Minimize Your Impact—You Are Empowered to Be a Witness

God’s mission to reach the ends of the earth began with a small, imperfect group of disciples, yet through the power of the Holy Spirit, their witness changed the world. You may feel ordinary or inadequate, but God delights in using everyday people to accomplish extraordinary things. If you know Jesus, you are called and empowered to be His witness—sharing and showing His love to those around you. The same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead lives in you, giving you boldness, compassion, and the ability to make an eternal difference. Your impact, no matter how small it seems, is part of God’s unstoppable movement. [24:30]

Acts 1:6-11 (ESV)
So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?”
He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority.
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight.
And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes,
and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”

Reflection: Who is one person in your life that you can intentionally share or show the love of Jesus to this week? What step can you take to be a witness to them today?

Day 4: Don’t Be Caught Standing Around—Join God’s Mission

After Jesus ascended, the disciples were left gazing into heaven, but the angels urged them to get moving and join the mission. God calls us not to be passive observers but active participants in His redemptive work. Evil will not win; Jesus will return and make all things right. Until then, we are called to push back darkness, serve others, and bring hope to our communities. Your willingness to step out, serve, and engage in God’s mission can change lives, families, and even generations. Don’t settle for a life of comfort or complacency—get in the game and let God use you for His glory. [29:45]

Revelation 21:3-5 (ESV)
And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.
He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”

Reflection: What is one practical way you can step out of passivity and join God’s mission this week—whether by serving, encouraging, or reaching out to someone in need?

Day 5: Love Moves—Let God’s Love Flow Through You

The love of Jesus is not meant to stop with us; it is meant to move through us to bless others. When we experience God’s grace, we are called to extend that grace, truth, and hope to our families, neighbors, and city. Whether it’s serving in the church, volunteering in the community, or simply being present for someone in pain, your actions can be a conduit of God’s love. When you step out in faith, you may not always see immediate results, but God uses your obedience to break chains, transform lives, and push back the darkness. Don’t settle for less—let love move through you and be part of God’s redemptive story. [36:40]

John 13:34-35 (ESV)
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.
By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.

Reflection: What is one tangible act of love you can do for someone today that will point them to Jesus? Ask God to show you and give you the courage to act.

Sermon Summary

This week, as I sat with my family at the dinner table, we were confronted with the overwhelming evil and brokenness in our world—shootings, stabbings, and senseless loss. My heart broke as my children struggled to keep track of the tragedies, a sign of just how common these events have become. We named the evil for what it is, acknowledging that this is not the way things are supposed to be. Our first response, as followers of Jesus, is to lament—to grieve, to mourn with those who mourn, and to bring our sadness and anger honestly before God. Scripture gives us permission to feel deeply, to bring our pain into the presence of God and His people, and to refuse to numb ourselves or move too quickly to easy answers.

But we do not stay in lament. We are called to pray, to bring our cries and our hopes to the only One who is both loving enough to care and powerful enough to act. Prayer is not a passive response; it is a declaration of faith in a sovereign King who can change hearts, lives, and even the course of history. Yet, prayer is not the end. Love moves. We are called to act, to serve, to push back the darkness with the light of Christ, to be agents of grace and truth in a world desperate for both.

In Acts 1, Jesus calls His disciples—and us—not to settle for less when He is calling us into more. The disciples wanted a political or territorial kingdom, but Jesus lifted their eyes to a mission that would reach the ends of the earth. He warned them (and us) not to get distracted by lesser things—politics, comfort, or personal ambition—but to focus on the eternal mission of making Him known. He entrusted this mission to ordinary people, empowered by the Holy Spirit, and history shows how God has multiplied their witness beyond imagination.

We are not to minimize our impact. If we know Jesus, we are His witnesses—this is not just a command, but a reality. The same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead empowers us to share and show Jesus to a broken world. We must not be caught standing around, gazing into heaven, but instead step into the mission God has given us. Our lives, our families, our church—these are the places where God wants to bring light, hope, and transformation. The story is not over. Jesus is coming back. Evil will not win. Let’s not settle for less, but join in God’s redemptive work, pushing back darkness and bringing the hope of Christ to the ends of the earth.

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Key Takeaways

1. Lament Is a Holy Response to Evil When confronted with the brokenness of our world, it is both biblical and necessary to lament. Grieving and mourning are not signs of weak faith, but of honest engagement with the reality of sin and evil. The Psalms give us language for our anger and sadness, inviting us to bring our raw emotions into God’s presence rather than suppressing or sanitizing them. True lament is the first step toward healing and hope. [04:05]
2. Prayer Is More Powerful Than Public Opinion In a culture obsessed with posting and reacting, we are called to prioritize prayer over public statements. Our words on social media may have some influence, but our prayers reach the throne of the sovereign King who can actually change hearts and circumstances. Investing time in prayer is not a retreat from action, but the most powerful action we can take, aligning our hearts with God’s will and inviting His intervention in our world. [05:39]
3. Don’t Get Distracted by Lesser Kingdoms It is easy to become consumed by politics, personal comfort, or the pursuit of success, but Jesus calls us to lift our eyes to a greater mission. We are first and foremost citizens of His kingdom, not any earthly nation or party. The eternal story God is writing is far bigger than our temporary concerns, and we are invited to participate in bringing His light to all people, not just to our own tribe or nation. [15:56]
4. Your Ordinary Life Has Extraordinary Impact Jesus entrusted His global mission to a handful of ordinary, flawed disciples, and through the power of the Holy Spirit, their witness changed the world. We must not minimize our own impact or wait for perfect conditions. If we know Jesus, we are His witnesses—our stories, our service, and our faithfulness can break generational chains and bring hope to families, neighborhoods, and cities. The Spirit’s power is available to us today, making the impossible possible. [23:18]
5. Don’t Be Caught Standing Around—Step Into the Mission The temptation to remain passive, to simply observe or wait for someone else to act, is strong. But the call of Christ is to move, to serve, to join in His redemptive work. Our legacy will not be measured by comfort or applause, but by whether we lived for the kingdom and fame of Jesus, investing in what truly matters. Let’s not settle for less, but step boldly into God’s mission, knowing that evil will not have the last word and that Jesus is coming again. [29:45]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:07] - Processing Tragedy as a Family
[02:46] - The Image of God and the Value of Life
[04:05] - Lament: A Biblical Response to Evil
[05:39] - The Priority of Prayer Over Posting
[06:57] - Love Moves: Serving and Acting
[07:49] - Don’t Settle for Less: The Call of Jesus
[09:30] - Acts 1: The Mission and the Kingdom
[11:01] - The Disciples’ Question and Our Distractions
[15:56] - Kingdom Citizenship Over Politics
[18:06] - Evaluating Our Prayers and Impact
[19:21] - The Impossible Mission and the Power of the Spirit
[23:18] - Witnesses: Ordinary People, Extraordinary Impact
[27:06] - God’s Mission Is Still Advancing
[29:04] - Don’t Stand Around: Join the Mission
[32:52] - Real Stories of Witness and Transformation
[36:40] - Living a Life Worth Remembering
[39:05] - Closing Prayer and Sending

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Acts 1:6-11 (ESV) — 6 So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?”
7 He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority.
8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
9 And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight.
10 And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes,
11 and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”

Observation Questions

What question did the disciples ask Jesus before He ascended, and what does this reveal about their expectations? (Acts 1:6)
According to Jesus, what would the disciples receive, and what would be the result of that gift? (Acts 1:8)
In the sermon, what were some of the real-life tragedies discussed at the dinner table, and how did the family respond to them? [[01:07]]
What did the angels say to the disciples as they stood looking into heaven, and what was the significance of their message? (Acts 1:10-11)

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think the disciples were focused on a political or territorial kingdom, and how does Jesus redirect their focus to something greater? (Acts 1:6-8)
The sermon talks about lament as a first response to evil. Why is it important for Christians to grieve and mourn honestly before God instead of rushing to “easy answers”? [[04:05]]
Jesus says, “You will be my witnesses.” According to the sermon, what does it mean that this is not just a command but a reality for every believer? [[23:18]]
The angels challenge the disciples not to just stand around looking into heaven. What does this imply about the kind of life Jesus wants His followers to live while waiting for His return? [[29:04]]

Application Questions

The sermon described lament as a holy and biblical response to evil. When was the last time you allowed yourself to truly lament or grieve over the brokenness in the world or in your own life? What would it look like to bring that honestly before God this week? [[04:05]]
The pastor said, “We pray more than we post.” How much time do you spend reacting to news or posting online compared to praying about the issues that trouble you? What is one way you could shift your response this week? [[05:39]]
The disciples were distracted by their own ideas of what God’s kingdom should look like. Are there “lesser kingdoms” (politics, comfort, personal ambition, etc.) that are distracting you from God’s bigger mission? What is one step you can take to refocus? [[15:56]]
The sermon emphasized that ordinary people, empowered by the Holy Spirit, can have extraordinary impact. Do you ever minimize your own potential to make a difference? What is one area of your life where you could step out in faith as a witness for Jesus? [[23:18]]
The angels told the disciples not to just stand around. Is there an area where you’ve been passive or waiting for someone else to act? What is one practical way you can “step into the mission” this week—at home, at work, or in your community? [[29:45]]
The pastor shared stories of both awkward and fruitful attempts to share faith. What fears or hesitations hold you back from being a witness? How can you take a small risk to share or show Jesus to someone in your life this month? [[32:52]]
The sermon closed with a challenge to invest in what truly matters and not settle for less. If someone spoke at your funeral, what would you want them to say about your life and legacy? What is one change you could make now to move toward that vision? [[37:44]]

Sermon Clips

``We pray more than we post. Amen? Amen? Like, putting stuff out on the interwebs. I know it's amazing what you have to say. I know, like, people need it. Like, people are going to be missing out if they don't hear from you. But did you know, like, your words on Facebook and Instagram? ...maybe a little bit of power, your words to a sovereign king of the universe who can actually respond and change your life and change the people's lives around you and change our whole world, that's a better investment of time. Amen? [00:05:42] (39 seconds) #PrayMorePostLess

We have hope as Christians. We have a mission as Christians, not because of blind optimism, but because of a confident hope that we have an empty tomb and a risen savior and one who ascended on high is coming again to make all things right. Does anybody believe this today? So he says, join in the mission. Stop standing around. Don't settle for less when Jesus calls you into more. [00:09:30] (27 seconds) #HopeInTheRisenKing

Don't get distracted by lesser things when there is an eternal war between life and death, good and evil, a redemptive story to bring not just the nation of Israel, but all of humanity into right relationship with God, that people are dying and going to hell without Jesus, but we have Jesus, and you carry that mission. Proclaim him. Practice him in our world full of grace and truth, and don't get distracted by your career. Don't get distracted by your kids. Don't get distracted by finances. Don't get distracted by politics. [00:15:01] (36 seconds) #UndistractedKingdomMission

I feel in a prophetic moment today that Jesus Christ, if he showed up on the scene, he would say, hey, take your eyes off the donkey and the elephant and put them on the lamb. He's coming back. He's going to rule, and he has no term limit. Amen? He's going to rule forever. He's the alpha and the omega. There will be no question every four years of what's going to happen and who's going to be put in office and how are the policies going to work out. We will all be, every knee, every knee will be bowed. Philippians says, every tongue will confess. Jesus is Lord to the glory of the Father, and if that's coming, if that king is coming, if that is the kingdom, if that is the kingdom. Amen. Wouldn't we want to start practicing now for that reality? [00:15:38] (50 seconds) #FocusOnTheLamb

You are kingdom citizens over and above American citizens. And in a weird week where a 31 year old guy lost his life and his wife has to ask, how am I going to explain this? And comes up with the best of her ability. He's on a work trip with Jesus. And a Ukrainian girl is stabbed on a train who came here for protection and freedom, but is not, in Colorado a kid is in the hospital in critical condition. The fact that we're warring online about donkeys and elephants and red and blue is insane. And the fact that we're believers in Jesus Christ who are kingdom citizens over and above any side of the aisle, the fact that we're caught up in that, that is sinful. And God is calling you out of that distraction and to put your eyes on him and live as a kingdom citizen who is different than the rest of this world and bring light into this darkness. God is calling you to that. Don't get distracted. Don't get distracted. [00:16:44] (63 seconds) #KingdomCitizenshipFirst

You will be my witnesses. Listen, that's a command, but it's also a statement of objective fact, right? It's the idea, if you've experienced Jesus Christ, you will extend Jesus Christ to everyone you know. You will be his witnesses, right? This is the way it was set up from the beginning, with Abraham. God's like, hey, Abraham, I'm going to bless you. Oh, Abraham, that's so great. Like, he's just going to bless me. No, I'm going to bless you, so you will be a blessing. You fast forward to the New Testament, 2 Corinthians 5. Hey, you are going to be reconciled to Christ, a new creation. That's amazing. So that you can be agents of reconciliation to the world. Sounds like you're in the Avengers, right? Like, you experience something with Jesus, but it never stops with you. Love moves right I hear there's a church that has that on some tote bags it goes in you but it doesn't stop with you it doesn't terminate on you it goes through you you will be my witnesses. [00:23:47] (63 seconds) #YouWillBeWitnesses

At your funeral one day, people are going to get up on a stage and they're going to say nice things about you. You just want them to not make it up. You just want people in the congregation not to be like, really, Joe? Like, I don't, I never really saw that. Am I in the right place? Like, no, you want people sitting there to be like, yeah, I knew Jimmy. I got my own story. He was a witness of Jesus Christ. He lived for more than himself. He did not settle for less. He lived for the kingdom and the fame of Jesus Christ. He served other people. He showed the love of Jesus to other people. He invested into what mattered. He was on mission for God. That's what you want. And that's what I want for you. [00:37:57] (45 seconds) #LiveALegacyOfFaith

Jump into God's mission. Just go to a table. Get in the game and see God use you, transform you, and transform our world, pushing back this darkness and evil in our world. You are plan A, not there's no plan B. Let's step into it. Amen, church? [00:39:03] (16 seconds) #JoinGodsMission

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