Faithful Lamenting

One of my favorite things about the Bible is that it is full of people like us—regular people who believe in God but also doubt as they wrestle with living in this world filled with intense pain and sorrow.

Of course, we are grateful to God when our prayers are answered, and things work out as we desire.

But what about when they don't?

How can our hearts be filled with gratitude and faith while we mourn the loss of a loved one or are overcome with sorrow after a terrible diagnosis or awful tragedy?

It is so natural to be caught up in our lamenting.

Here's how a good lament usually goes:

First, we say what it is we are upset about.

Second, we state our complaints and grievances about how unfair it is.

Then, we ask for what we want to happen (aka our will).

Finally, we tell God how we trust He will be a good boy and do what we've asked.

Tick tock.

Um, hello, God, didn't you hear us?

Testing..1..2..3.

Is this thing on?

How can we be grateful when our lamenting seems to fall on deaf ears?

In those quiet times, we can start to lose faith, gratefulness, and trust if we focus only on resolved problems or answered prayers.

Even Jesus cried out to God as He hung on the cross, questioning if He was forsaken.

It is normal and understandable to cry out in doubt in our pain and uncertainty.

God can handle it, and He isn't disappointed in us in those moments of doubt and fear.

Our gratitude and faith are so often an all or nothing deal.

Is it possible to be grateful mid-lamenting?

Can we have both?

Can we challenge ourselves to thank God for strengthening and teaching us while we wait?

Can we ask God to show us the light even in the darkest of troubles?

Can we appreciate that God's will is greater than ours, that He sees things differently than we do, and trust Him even in those really awful times?

Can we know that, in the end, everything will be okay as God has promised?

Whatever you are lamenting, can you find glimmers of gratitude within the difficulties?

I know it's not easy.

You just want this to get better and for everything to be okay, like, NOW!

It ain't easy to be grateful during seasons of deep, long-lasting lamenting, that's for sure.

Remember, my precious friend, that you are not alone.

No matter what is happening, God is with you, and there are people all around you willing to be excellent lament listeners and help you find the glimpses of gratitude within the hard times.

We can be filled with faith and gratitude amidst the fear and sadness.

Even in the difficult times, we can gather the strength to utter these words along with our lament-filled prayers:

Thank You, God, for this beautiful life you have given us.

Psalm 6: 2-4

Have mercy on me, Lord, for I am faint; heal me, Lord, for my bones are in agony. My soul is in deep anguish. How long, Lord, how long? Turn, Lord, and deliver me; save me because of your unfailing love.

Lamentations 3:24

I remember my affliction and my wandering, the bitterness and the gall.

I well remember them, and my soul is downcast within me. Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, "The Lord is my portion; therefore, I will wait for him."

Revelations 21:4

He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.