Lament is not a popular topic in the US, even among most Christians. It feels like when we are to proclaim the good news that Jesus has freed us from sin and death, there shouldn’t be any room for bad news. However, that is an overly simplistic theology. While we are living in the time of “the now and the not yet” we have to hold together two realities. Jesus did in fact usher in the Kingdom of God through His death, resurrection, and ascension. But the final victory is yet to come. We are not yet living in the New Heaven and the New Earth, though we know it is coming.
It is dishonest, ignorant, or even cruel to deny the presence of evil and suffering in our world. When a loved one dies, it is not compassionate to tell one who is grieving that they shouldn’t weep. When children die of malnutrition or politicians steal public funds to enrich themselves, THIS IS NOT GOOD, and to ignore it or downplay it is wrong. Lament allows us to acknowledge the ongoing suffering in the world, which leads us both to genuine compassion and trust in God because “He shall wipe away every tear” (Revelation 21:4).
If lament is not a normal part of your Christian practice, how do you get started? First, participating in worship services during the season of Lent (the 40 days leading up to Easter) can help, because it is a penitential time (focusing on repentance from sin), and the scripture lessons tend to lead one in that direction.
You can also read the often overlooked book of Lamentations to get a feel for how to lament. If you find something that speaks to you personally, make it your own prayer of lament. In the same line of thought, read psalms of lament. Depending on how you count, up to a third of the psalms are lament. Some are individual laments, over a specific situation in the life of the psalmist (to include personal sin), while others are considered communal, lamenting for the injustice and other problems the psalmist sees all around him. A few of the psalms of the individual category are: 3, 6, 13, 22, 25, 28, 31, 44, 56, 57, 71, 77, 86, 130, and 142. Some communal laments can be found in the following psalms: 10, 12, 44, 60, 74, 79, 80, 85, and 90. Just like with Lamentations, if you find something that speaks to your situation, make it your own prayer to God. And like David, trust Him with it.
