Lamenting Before the Lord

Sometimes I get really frustrated or annoyed about something and will sit on my friend’s porch and talk about it.

I will whine, cry, question the circumstance, and list out all that is bothering me.

By the end of the conversation we are both saying, “But God can help. He can intervene.”

 

This is more than griping, complaining, or whining.

It’s lamenting.

 

Lament – to express deep regret, grief, anger or sorrow. It is followed by moving to an expression of trust.

 

The Bible is filled with these types of things.

My favorite is Psalm 13.

David has had all these bad things happening; things he’s concerned and worried about.

 

He writes about them specifically in the first 4 verses when he is asking God how long he (David) must suffer in all these areas.

Then in verse 5 he tells God, “But I trust in Your unfailing love…”.

He wraps up the Psalm by declaring he will sing God’s praise –

He will praise God because God has been good to him.

 

Instead of focusing on his problems he chooses to look to God and His unfailing love,

In other words, David is saying he has all these problems but is choosing to look to the Lord and to trust Him.,

Not so God will fix them.

Not so God will answer his prayers, but because David recognizes who God is and what He’s done for him.

 

Lamenting doesn’t mean we’re weak.

It means we trust God enough to be real with Him and to tell Him how we really feel about something.

Following up with praise and an expression of trust is proof, both to God and ourselves, that we trust Him and that we realize we need Him to help us in our lives.

That is to be respected, not treated as a shortcoming to be rejected or refused.

 

I wonder if I do this.

Do I always lament?

Or, do I sometimes just whine and complain?

Sometimes I do a little of each but I’m working hard in this area to make sure I am lamenting and not just grumbling.

 

No matter what is going on, God is good and worthy to be praised.

I pray I will look to God when my problems begin to overwhelm me and I will trust Him, His love and His goodness to sustain me no matter the circumstance. .

 

What about you?

Do you praise God in the face of your struggles?

How can you improve in this area?

 

The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and He helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise Him. Psalm 28:7 

 

I sought the Lord, and He answered me; He delivered me from all my fears. ⁵ Those who look to Him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame. Psalm 34:4-5