Thank you to Ruth Hersey for our April Spiritual Journey prompt: Lament. Please visit her blog where you can find reflections from Ruth and from the rest of our cohort.
The world feels very heavy right now.
I am aware that joy is the opposite of sadness. Sadness brings with it the temptation to withdraw. Joy lies in connection.
I know the opposite of fear is not courage. It is anger. There are those who want us to feel small and to hide. This is when anger is useful. Even Jesus threw a few tables around.
The opposite of trust is disgust. And the primary response in disgust is to reject what is inconsistent with my foundational values.
It’s interesting to me that my path to joy may take me through the valleys of anger and disgust.
This is the kind…that can only be driven out by prayer.
As Lent begins, a dear friend sent her prayer for me: I believe. Help my unbelief. It comes at the end of Mark 9:14-25.
To me, this is the most beautiful, direct lamentation in scripture.
It is my prayer, too.
Here I am, Lord
Here I am, Lord,
me and my companions,
Disbelief and Disgust.
You have left us
drowning
in overwhelm and outrage.
Evil lives here now,
has split our house
in half,
fomenting fear
on both sides.
Do you hear our cries?
Bitter,
scared
furious.
Do you care?
You have power!
Drive them out!
It will take more than faith.
I believe. Help my unbelief.
©2025 Patricia J. Franz
Patricia Franz writes picture books and poetry. She believes children, dogs, and sourdough have a lot to teach us about life, joy, and wonder. She has raised two boys, four dogs, and holds a master’s degree in Theology with a focus on children’s spirituality. Patricia, her husband, her Bernese Mountain dog, Bonny, and her sourdough starter split their time between the Arizona desert and the Sierra Nevada mountains. 
Thank you, Patricia. I also love “I believe. Help my unbelief.” And such joy in connection! Let us hold one another in prayer as we make the journey.
Patricia, you have expressed the anger and disbelief so many of us feel. We feel as if we are not being heard. We feel abandoned. Yet, we believe. We trust God will answer our prayers in time. That is what gives us the strength to go on. “I believe. Help my unbelief.” Bob
Your lament is powerful and ends with the pleading of help my unbelief. Even amidst all the things we can’t control, you would think we could control our belief. But it’s hard sometimes to find God in our midst. We have to trust, not disgust.
I believe in the prayer to “help my unbelief.” Only the Lord can do so. I believe He is alway at work, in ways we cannot see. I believe that the path of joy will take us through many things, and I pray for wisdom. Yes, trust! Blessings to you, Patricia.