Laments for Lent – A Psalm of Confession for Ash Wednesday
(See Sonderquotes for the longer quotation.)
As I did last year, I’m planning to write a lament every week of Lent, in preparation for writing a follow-up book to Praying with the Psalmists,, which I hope to call Laments for Lent.
In January, I got to do a workshop at my church’s women’s retreat. I led some women through writing their own laments. Just last Sunday, one of the women told me that she’s been writing laments and it helps her deal with all the hard things going on in the world around us. Those words lifted my heart – I suspected that these ideas could help people open their hearts to God, and I love to hear that yes, it’s not just me.
And today is Ash Wednesday. I’ve had a full day – did a once-a-year program at my work, talking with other librarians about my passion – children’s book award winners. After work, I went to an Ash Wednesday service at my church, sang a version of “Amazing Grace” with my choir, and got to read the Old Testament reading.
The passage was Isaiah 58:1-12. This is the passage that tells the people that empty forms of worship aren’t what God wants.
Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:
to loose the chains of injustice
and untie the cords of the yoke,
to set the oppressed free
and break every yoke?
Is it not to share your food with the hungry
and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter –
when you see the naked, to clothe them,
and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?
And there’s much more like that. I recommend reading it. It felt like a bold choice in today’s world – and a convicting one.
So I want to start the Laments for Lent blog series with a Psalm of Confession.
(In my Psalms class back in college, the professor called them “Penitential Psalms.” I decided “Psalms of Confession” was simpler, but am now thinking about switching the name to “Psalms of Repentance.” Any opinion? Let me know in the comments.)
Psalms of Confession are essentially a subtype of Lament – you’re in trouble, but this time it’s your own fault.
The parts are almost the same as a Lament:
1) Address to God
2) Confession of Sin [Instead of Complaint in a Lament]
3) Confession of Trust
4) Entreaty [usually for mercy and forgiveness]
5) Sureness of Help [because God is gracious and forgiving]
6) Subsequent Praise
On Ash Wednesday, we think of our mortality, and I always think of Psalm 103:13-18
As a father has compassion on his children,
so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him;
for he knows how we are formed,
he remembers that we are dust.
The life of mortals is like grass,
they flourish like the flower of the field;
the wind blows over it and it is gone,
and its place remembers it no more.
But from everlasting to everlasting
the Lord’s love is with those who fear him,
and his righteousness with their children’s children –
with those who keep his covenant
and remember to obey his precepts.
So – those are the thoughts swirling inside me. Let me go ahead and write a psalm of confession: (To start, I’m also going to borrow from Psalm 51.)
Ash Wednesday, 2026.
Have mercy on me, God,
according to your unfailing love.
According to your great compassion
heal my inadequacies.
Father, I live in a country that is abducting foreigners,
incarcerating the vulnerable,
letting people die for lack of health care,
showing no compassion to the poor,
while letting the rich get away with raping children.
And what have I done to help?
Shepherd, I’m so inadequate,
so at a loss,
and so busy running my own little life.
Even in my own lane I feel inadequate.
I want to be a good mother to my boomerang kid,
but I don’t even know how to help.
I want to tell folks how to write their own psalms,
and I haven’t managed to get my book published
(And maybe it’s not that helpful anyway?)
I wanted to write a follow-up book
and started thinking about it a year ago now.
What’s taking me so long?
So many projects, so many ideas,
and what do they even mean in the context
of trying to break the bonds of injustice?
Then there are those postcards I ordered
to send to representatives.
Was I planning to mail them any time soon?
I feel not only inadequate
but helpless.
But you, Father, know that we are dust.
You are never surprised by my inadequacies.
And you love me anyway.
Help me, Lord, to discern
the path you have for me.
Guide me in the way I should go.
Show me joys along the way
to remind me that you are not angry with me
because of my inadequacy.
Father, you are compassionate and gracious,
slow to anger, and rich in love.
You promise that if anyone asks for wisdom,
you’ll give generously, without finding fault.
So I do ask for that mercy and grace and forgiveness
and wisdom and guidance for these perilous times –
and I know that you will answer,
I know that you will shine your love on me.
And then I will praise your name,
and pause in wonder at your mercy and faithfulness.
Thank you for your great love.
Okay, that’s my prayer today. You are welcome to paste your own psalms into the comments.
And what do you think: Should I call them Psalms of Confession, or Psalms of Repentance?
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