David fasted and prayed in sackcloth and ashes for the life of his child. God did not answer affirmatively. He was repentant. He did the thing: body talk, body plea, body grief, body contact, body hope. It didn't work.

What do we do when we have the grievous sacred moment and we respond to the moment God's way (fasting) but the thing we are hoping for (healing) doesn't come?

Jeff addresses the widespread dissatisfaction among Americans with the political system, as reflected in a Pew Research report showing that only 4% believe the system is working well. Despite these concerns, Jeff emphasizes the importance of elections and political leadership, referencing Romans 13, which calls government authorities "servants of God" for the good of the people. Christians are called to respect authority, even when the leadership does not align with their beliefs, while still acknowledging the significance of the character of those in power.

However, the key message is that while Christians should be concerned about political matters, they should not be overwhelmed with worry. Jeff distinguishes between concern (caring deeply) and worry (being burdened by uncertainty). He urges the congregation to remember 2 Corinthians 4:8-9, which speaks of being afflicted but not crushed, perplexed but not driven to despair. The upcoming election, while important, is framed as a "grievous sacred moment" – a time that calls for fasting and prayer rather than anxiety.

Final message on fasting this week and we're turning toward fasting to stand with the poor. Fasting, like many spiritual practices, can often focus on self-improvement and that's a danger of talking a lot about formations.  However, this shouldn't be an excuse to ignore the needs of others.  By seeking justice and solidarity, as Jesus instructed in Luke 4:16-19, our fasting aligns our hearts with God's, enabling us to bless others while growing spiritually.