Good Grief Part 4: Learning to Lament in LamentationsSample

EVERYONE IS HURTING

Pain and suffering tend to narrow our focus. When hard times hit, our human nature kicks in and we are tempted to turn inward, thinking only about our own personal struggles. But the writer of Lamentations took the time to notice that everyone around him was grieving and suffering in some way: young and old, rich and poor, princes and priests. Some died by the sword, and some experienced famine. Everyone was hurting. As he composed his lament, God helped him see the pain of others and their unifying brokenness. As he wept for his own losses, he also wept for his neighbors and the collective pain of their nation as a whole. Through this, we learn that lament can help us really see each other and authentically grieve together. There is comfort and healing in that place.

Ask Yourself:

- When have you walked through a shared season of suffering with others?

- How did mourning together help the healing process?

- How did it impact your relationship with each other?

Pause to Pray: Merciful Father, I thank you for seeing me – all that I am and all that I’m meant to be. And I thank you for never leaving me, no matter how far I might wander. Soften my heart, God, to begin to see the people around me with that kind of love.

Living Lament: It’s possible that you keep a prayer list of some sort, to remember to pray for friends and family facing difficulties. As you pray for them today, try to lean in a bit deeper. Ask God to grant you revelation not only about the situation they are facing but the pain and grief surrounding it as well. Once you have tuned your heart in this way, reach out and offer to connect and pray with them.