Learn the Power of Lamenting

O Lord, God of my salvation, I cry out to you by day. I come to you at night. Psalm 88:1

Do you ever feel undone by all that is wrong in the world?

Kayla frequently shares on her social media how debilitated and depressed she feels about the injustice she sees done to people without a voice. Sometimes she feels like there’s something wrong with her, she gets so sad.

You might think it’s very religious to be strong in the face of heartbreak. Men may especially be discouraged from expressing emotion. However, the Bible talks about lamenting or grieving more than you may realize. Seventy percent of the Bible’s Psalms include lamenting! A lament is a cry out to God about the injustice or tragedy of a situation. It can even be a righteous appeal for God to act in response to the situation. But at its heart, a lament honestly gives voice to your sorrow. God allows us to feel deeply and grieve our heartbreak.

But God makes space for those torn up over the wrongs in the world. We, too, need to allow people to lament the losses, injustices, and abuses they’ve experienced.

So, how do we lament?

Lamenting starts with turning to God. Even when the Psalm writer is complaining bitterly, he is doing so with eyes turned to a God who hears his prayers, catching every tear. Psalm 88:1 opens with “O Lord, God of my salvation, I cry out to you by day. I come to you at night.” You too can bring your sorrows to Him, knowing that He cares for you deeply and empathizes with your pain.

Laments also ask God to respond and act! Lastly, laments place trust in God. Entrust your sorrows, needs, and hopes into His tender and compassionate hands with a lament.