One of my coworkers at Global Frontier Missions, Susanna, gives a teaching on lament each a semester. It’s insightful and helpful, and I want to share with you what I’ve learned from her.
A lament is a form of prayer commonly found throughout the Bible in both the Old and New Testament. A lament brings pain, suffering, even confusion to God. The laments we find in the Bible are raw, sincere, and hurting.
It is a common misconception that having faith equates to “being happy.” There is a common (mis)understanding that people who are truly spiritual won’t be saddened by the pains and griefs of the world.
I have two problems with that view: First, that doesn’t seem to line up with the the real experiences of people in the Bible, so I believe this view is untrue. And secondly, that view actually harms the people who try to live it out, so I believe this view is bad.
(You can see an article looking more at how to best understand Joy and Hope here.)
In contrast, biblical laments show us a way to bring our real experiences of suffering into our relationship with God.
In this article, we will examine Psalm 13 as a blueprint for lament. Then, we will conclude by exploring how apply these principles, to bring our own laments to God.
Examining Psalm 13
To begin, let’s examine Psalm 13. Psalm 13 was written by David, and in it we see him pouring out his grief and troubles to God. Let’s examine this Psalm in four sections, drawing out an actionable step from each.
Psalm 13
Psalm 13:1a: “How long, Lord? Will You forget me forever?”
Step 1: Call out to God. Call out to Him, remembering times when God was present in your past.
Psalm 13:1b-2: How long will You hide Your face from me?
2 How long must I wrestle with my thoughts
and day after day have sorrow in my heart?
How long will my enemy triumph over me?
Step 2: Tell God about your pain. Put what you’re experiencing into words. And be real and raw; God isn’t offended when we bring pain to Him.
Psalm 13:3-4: Look on me and answer, Lord my God.
Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death,
4 and my enemy will say, “I have overcome him,”
and my foes will rejoice when I fall.
Step 3: Ask God for help. He already knows what you’re going through. Be completely honest and ask Him for what you need. Even just saying “Lord, help!” is a prayer.
Psalm 13:5-6: But I trust in Your unfailing love;
my heart rejoices in Your salvation.
6 I will sing the Lord’s praise,
for He has been good to me.
Step 4: Affirm your trust in God. Maybe you feel like you can’t trust Him fully. But bringing lament to Him IS trusting Him. So to end a lament, remind yourself that He is good, true, and trustworthy.
Application: Bringing Your Own Lament to God
You can create your own laments. To do so, just pray (or write out a prayer) to God follow the four steps outlined above.
- 1. Call out to God
- 2. Tell God about your pain
- 3. Ask Him for help
- 4. Reaffirm your trust in Him.
After all, God is a God who deeply cares for you, and invites you to bring your anxieties to Him so that He can help you! (You can read more on this topic in this examination of Philippians 4:1-14.)
Your lament can be private, but it could also be helpful to share that lament with a trusted friend.
May the “God of all comfort” bring comfort and grace to you, as you bring your griefs and pains to Him.
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