Getting Honest With God: Learn the 4 Practices of LamentSample

Day # 3: Expressed Protest

Lament starts with explaining your pain to God, but it doesn’t stop there—you’re invited to protest against it. This may surprise you. You may think, Who am I to protest my situation to the holy and righteous God? Who am I to complain to the infinite Creator from my limited perspective? That might be our conclusion… if it weren’t for the Bible. Scripture has plenty of honest prayers of protest, namely in the Psalms. And the Psalms are the prayers that God gave to his people to give back to him. The Lord invites you to express your displeasure to him and ask him your difficult questions.

There are many instances where God’s promises don’t seem to line up with our pain. Or you may see suffering and injustice in the world that is counter to the character of God. When this occurs, our tendency can be to ignore the tension we feel. Or we rush to explain it away with theological reasons. But through lament, God invites you to bring him your complaints and questions. Suffering often reduces our prayers down to one word: why? It’s okay to punctuate your prayers with question marks.

Psalm 44 is a corporate prayer written by strong believers who had heard of and experienced the faithfulness of God (v 1-8). But their innocent suffering, under God’s sovereign rule, prompted them to bring him their protests (v 9-26). As you read this prayer, take note of the responsibility they place on the Lord, marked by the repeated word “you.” Notice, too, their unsettling string of questions in verses 23 and 24.

Reflection Questions

Why might you hesitate to bring to God your difficult questions and displeasure?

​​What does knowing that God invites your protests tell you about his character?

What suffering are you experiencing or witnessing today that doesn’t sit well with you?