Creekside Church, Sunday, June 29, 2025
Broken & Bewildered
Locations & Times
Creekside Church
660 Conservation Dr, Waterloo, ON N2J 3Z4, Canada
Sunday 8:25 AM
Sunday 9:45 AM
Sunday 11:15 AM
Togetherness in Joy and Sorrow
Romans 12:15 – “Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.”
Last week, we celebrated baptisms, rejoicing together. Today, we focus on weeping with those who weep, embracing emotional solidarity as the body of Christ.
Jesus modeled this, weeping at Lazarus’ tomb (John 11:35).
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This morning, we lament together, creating space for those hurting, frustrated, or fearful to cry out to God, supported by the church.
----------
What Is Lament?
Lament is a prayer of pain, raw and honest, sometimes surprising in its boldness, found throughout Scripture.
Sounds Like:
Psalm 44:24-25 – “Why do you hide your face? Why do you forget our affliction and oppression? For our soul is bowed down to the dust; our belly clings to the ground.”
**Innocent yet beaten down, crying for God’s help and love.
Psalm 130:1-2 – “Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord! O Lord, hear my voice! Let your ears be attentive to the voice of my pleas for mercy!”
**Lamenting personal or communal sin, seeking forgiveness.
Psalm 12:1-2 – “Save, O Lord, for the godly one is gone; for the faithful have vanished from among the children of man. Everyone utters lies to his neighbor; with flattering lips and a double heart they speak.”
**Crying out for the needy against a faithless world.
Psalm 58:6 – “O God, break the teeth in their mouths; tear out the fangs of the young lions, O Lord!”
**Boldly confronting enemies, asking God to act.
Psalm 43:5 – “Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.”
**Wrestling with despair, choosing hope.
----------
Purpose: Lament leads to trust, reorienting us to God. Nearly all lament psalms (except Psalm 88) end in hope, guiding us back to faith.
----------
Why Lament Matters
Christians are promised suffering, not constant happiness.
1 Thessalonians 4:13 – “But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope.”
We are prisoners of hope, but lament is a biblical response to pain.
Tool for Faith: Lament equips believers to face a broken world, offering a way to process suffering honestly before God.
Cultural Contrast: Our culture often replaces lament with mere sadness, which lacks agency. But we have a God who acts, inviting us to turn to Him.
----------
Lament Lines and Echoes:
How Long?
Psalm 6:3 – “My soul is in deep anguish. How long, Lord, how long?”
Why?
Psalm 10:2-5 – “In arrogance the wicked hotly pursue the poor… Why does the wicked renounce God and say in his heart, ‘You will not call to account’?”
Where are you?
Psalm 22:1 – “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning?”
Help.
Psalm 79:9 – “Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of your name; deliver us and atone for our sins, for your name’s sake!”
Be Near.
Psalm 69:18 – “Draw near to my soul, redeem me; ransom me because of my enemies!”
I will trust you.
Psalm 31:14 – “But I trust in you, O Lord; I say, ‘You are my God.’”
----------
Call-and-Response Prayer:
Lamenters: How long, O Lord, will you seem so far away? My heart aches with grief that won’t let go.
Congregation: Psalm 34:18 – “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.”
Lamenters: Darkness surrounds me, and I feel trapped in despair, like I’m sinking in a pit.
Congregation: Psalm 27:1 – “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?”
Lamenters: My enemies mock me; why must I face this alone?
Congregation: Psalm 46:1 – “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”
Lamenters: Out of the depths, I cry to you; my sins and struggles overwhelm me.
Congregation: Lamentations 3:22-23 – “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”
Lamenters: The world feels broken—violence, loss, and pain tear us apart. How long until you act?
Congregation: Revelation 21:4 – “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
Lamenters: Light up my eyes, O God; don’t let me fall into the darkness.
Congregation: 1 Peter 5:10 – “And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.”
---------
Psalm 42:11 – “Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.”
**The psalmist speaks to their soul, choosing hope, a hallmark of lament.
Romans 12:15 – “Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.”
Last week, we celebrated baptisms, rejoicing together. Today, we focus on weeping with those who weep, embracing emotional solidarity as the body of Christ.
Jesus modeled this, weeping at Lazarus’ tomb (John 11:35).
----------
This morning, we lament together, creating space for those hurting, frustrated, or fearful to cry out to God, supported by the church.
----------
What Is Lament?
Lament is a prayer of pain, raw and honest, sometimes surprising in its boldness, found throughout Scripture.
Sounds Like:
Psalm 44:24-25 – “Why do you hide your face? Why do you forget our affliction and oppression? For our soul is bowed down to the dust; our belly clings to the ground.”
**Innocent yet beaten down, crying for God’s help and love.
Psalm 130:1-2 – “Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord! O Lord, hear my voice! Let your ears be attentive to the voice of my pleas for mercy!”
**Lamenting personal or communal sin, seeking forgiveness.
Psalm 12:1-2 – “Save, O Lord, for the godly one is gone; for the faithful have vanished from among the children of man. Everyone utters lies to his neighbor; with flattering lips and a double heart they speak.”
**Crying out for the needy against a faithless world.
Psalm 58:6 – “O God, break the teeth in their mouths; tear out the fangs of the young lions, O Lord!”
**Boldly confronting enemies, asking God to act.
Psalm 43:5 – “Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.”
**Wrestling with despair, choosing hope.
----------
Purpose: Lament leads to trust, reorienting us to God. Nearly all lament psalms (except Psalm 88) end in hope, guiding us back to faith.
----------
Why Lament Matters
Christians are promised suffering, not constant happiness.
1 Thessalonians 4:13 – “But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope.”
We are prisoners of hope, but lament is a biblical response to pain.
Tool for Faith: Lament equips believers to face a broken world, offering a way to process suffering honestly before God.
Cultural Contrast: Our culture often replaces lament with mere sadness, which lacks agency. But we have a God who acts, inviting us to turn to Him.
----------
Lament Lines and Echoes:
How Long?
Psalm 6:3 – “My soul is in deep anguish. How long, Lord, how long?”
Why?
Psalm 10:2-5 – “In arrogance the wicked hotly pursue the poor… Why does the wicked renounce God and say in his heart, ‘You will not call to account’?”
Where are you?
Psalm 22:1 – “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning?”
Help.
Psalm 79:9 – “Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of your name; deliver us and atone for our sins, for your name’s sake!”
Be Near.
Psalm 69:18 – “Draw near to my soul, redeem me; ransom me because of my enemies!”
I will trust you.
Psalm 31:14 – “But I trust in you, O Lord; I say, ‘You are my God.’”
----------
Call-and-Response Prayer:
Lamenters: How long, O Lord, will you seem so far away? My heart aches with grief that won’t let go.
Congregation: Psalm 34:18 – “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.”
Lamenters: Darkness surrounds me, and I feel trapped in despair, like I’m sinking in a pit.
Congregation: Psalm 27:1 – “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?”
Lamenters: My enemies mock me; why must I face this alone?
Congregation: Psalm 46:1 – “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”
Lamenters: Out of the depths, I cry to you; my sins and struggles overwhelm me.
Congregation: Lamentations 3:22-23 – “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”
Lamenters: The world feels broken—violence, loss, and pain tear us apart. How long until you act?
Congregation: Revelation 21:4 – “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
Lamenters: Light up my eyes, O God; don’t let me fall into the darkness.
Congregation: 1 Peter 5:10 – “And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.”
---------
Psalm 42:11 – “Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.”
**The psalmist speaks to their soul, choosing hope, a hallmark of lament.