Learning to Lament
Lean on the Lord through Lament
It is likely that we’ve all experienced a time in our lives where after sharing our pain and turmoil with someone, they chose not to enter into our grief and sorrow to weep with us. Instead, they responded with cold truth that lacked compassion, tenderness, and love.
Our Lord is not like that. We serve a risen Savior who is defined by compassion and empathy (Ps. 103:8; 2 Cor. 1:3–4); who weeps with us (John 11:35; Rom. 12:15); who collects our tears in a bottle because they are precious to Him (Ps. 56:8); and who experiences our pain and sorrow with us (Is. 53:4; Rom. 8:26).
When you are suffering in the midst of a trial, or struggling with troubling emotions, cry out to God through lament. Lament is an intimate prayer of communion, trusting that God is incarnate with you in your trials, that pleads with Him to act in accordance with His character and promises.
Here's a breakdown of the steps involved in prayers of lament taken from the Psalms:
Address the Lord
Begin by acknowledging God's presence and turning to Him in prayer. This is an act of faith. Approach the throne of grace boldly and call on Him by name: My Father, My Lord, My God, My Help, My Defender, My Rock. Direct your conversation to the God who is there; the one who hears you, sees you, knows you, and loves you.
Articulate Your Complaint
While the Lord already knows your inmost thoughts (Ps. 139:4), take the time to be real and raw with God with heart-wrenching honesty. Express your pain, sorrow, or troubling emotions, and be vulnerably open with Him. After all, He is the one who cares for you (1 Pet. 5:7).
Ask God for Help
Lament does not end with complaint, otherwise it would be grumbling. Instead, it turns to God and appeals for help, hope, and healing in your time of trouble. This is the time to express your deepest desires and needs as you ask God to act in accordance with His character.
Affirm Your Trust
While expressing pain and asking for help, affirm your trust in God's character and His faithfulness. This is the destination of all laments. Every lament is designed to become a pathway leading to hope and trust in God. Lament is talking to God while holding His strong and sturdy hand as He leads you through your valley of the shadow of death experience.
Adoration and Praise
And your lament with a declaration of your love and affection for the Lord. Promise to praise Him in the midst of your struggle, and to glorify Him when He acts.
So, the next time you are in the midst of emotional pain and turmoil, draw near to God through lament. The goal of lament is not just to express your trouble and sorrow, but to renew your mind in faith, anchoring your trust on the hope that comes from above.
Dan Brewer
P.S. Never lamented before? Try writing your own personal lament following the pattern above. Perhaps use one of the following Psalms as a template: Psalm 3, 6, 13, 22, 25, 42, 44, 55, 77, or 88.
Want to learn more about Lament? Consider reading Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy, by Mark Vroegop.
“The Law shows the disease, the Gospel the cure.”