What is Lament in the Bible?
Almost one third of the Psalms are laments. There’s also an entire book in the Bible called Lamentations and it’s filled with honest expressions of pain and sorrow. Jesus himself cried out to the Father in agony as he suffered on the cross. Still, many believers are unfamiliar with the power of lament in our Christian journey. Especially in the United States, we struggle to bring our true emotions before God. However, God has given us the language of lament as a gift. Expressions of sorrow, grief, and dismay can be an integral part of our prayer lives — they are just as important as prayers of praise, thanksgiving, or confession. In this article, we will discuss exactly what is a lament, why laments are important in Christianity, look at some examples of Biblical laments, and learn some practical ways we can bring our honest emotions to God in prayer.
What is Lament?
A lament is a passionate expression of grief or sorrow. Walter Bruegmann writes that a lament is the “telling of all our secrets to God— the hidden, dark, painful, needy secrets that we prefer not to have or acknowledge.” When we lament, we allow the feelings in our heart to come to the surface. For some people, they express their laments best through journaling or creative writing. Others prefer to voice their grief by speaking with a counselor, friend, or loved one. Some people lament through their physical bodies — they let their emotions out through running, sports, or perhaps something like a rage room where they can release stress in a controlled environment.
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What is Lament in the Bible?
Laments in the Bible are most often expressed through poetry. As I mentioned earlier, almost one third of the Psalter are psalms of lament. These psalms usually follow a particular structure: address, complaint, petition, and confession of trust.
Address
A psalm of lament usually opens with an address. This address is often tied into the complaint. For example, in Psalm 13, the writer begins: “How long, Lord?”
Complaint
Next, lament psalms include a complaint. The speaker expresses the sorrow and pain in their heart.
Here is the complaint in Psalm 13:
How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever?
How long will you hide your face from me?
How long must I wrestle with my thoughts
and day after day have sorrow in my heart?
How long will my enemy triumph over me?
The speaker feels that God has forgotten and has hidden his face from him. The last line of this section suggests that the psalmist is in pain because his enemy seems to be triumphing over him.
Petition
After this, he asks God to do something about the situation. Within this petition, he also gives a reason for God to intervene:
Look on me and answer, Lord my God.
Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death,
and my enemy will say, “I have overcome him,”
and my foes will rejoice when I fall.
He wants God to answer him and replace his feelings of despair and darkness with hope and light. The reason the writer gives is that if God doesn’t answer, he will die and his enemies will be able to gloat when he falls.
Confession of Trust
Most of the lament psalms (with the exception of Psalm 39 and 88) end in a confession of trust. Although the speaker is overwhelmed by pain and sorrow, he does not forget the truth about God:
But I trust in your unfailing love;
my heart rejoices in your salvation.
I will sing the Lord’s praise,
for he has been good to me.
Because God is trustworthy, the speaker can rejoice in the salvation he knows God will bring. As he remembers the Lord’s goodness, he sings praises.
Related: An Open Letter to the Weary Christian Woman: Keep Holding On to Jesus
Why is Lament important in Christianity?
Lament is important in Christianity because our God is relational. A healthy relationship naturally involves honesty. Laments are an expression of trust — few of us would complain to someone if we didn’t think they cared for us.
Lament is also meaningful in Christianity because we live in an age of now and not yet. We know that Christ has conquered sin and death but we still experience the effects of both. When we lament, we voice that things are not the way they are supposed to be. By articulating the brokenness in our own lives and in the world, we invite God in to come and bring restoration. Thus, prayers of lament are our way of joining in and asking for God’s will to be done on earth.
Lastly, lament is important in Christianity because it helps us to be compassionate towards the world. Without compassion and love for the world, how can we effectively share the gospel with them? How can we enter into their suffering and be the hands and feet of Christ? If we cannot bring our own pain to the Lord and lament honestly, we won’t be able to compassionately weep with those who weep.
More Examples of Laments in the Bible
We looked at an example of a lament from Psalm 13. Now, let’s look at a few other laments in the Bible. We’ll take a look at Hannah’s lament in 1 Samuel 1:9-17, Habakkuk’s lament in Habakkuk 1:1-4, and Jesus’ lament in Matthew 27:45-46.
Hannah’s Lament (1 Samuel 1:9-17)
Hannah deeply desired a child but struggled with infertility. Her husband, Elkanah, had another wife, Peninnah, who was able to have children easily.
Hannah was in Shiloh with her family offering sacrifices to the Lord. Sitting in the house of the Lord, she prayed to the Lord, “weeping bitterly.”
In her deep anguish Hannah prayed to the Lord, weeping bitterly. And she made a vow, saying, “Lord Almighty, if you will only look on your servant’s misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the Lord for all the days of his life, and no razor will ever be used on his head.”
As she was praying, she made a vow that if God would give her a son, she would give that son back to him in service to the Lord.
Hannah expressed her sorrow so openly that the priest, Eli, thought she was drunk. She wasn’t. She was simply lamenting before the Lord.
Have you ever felt like Hannah did? Desperately wanting God to intervene in a particular situation in your life? Like Hannah, you can express those honest feelings to God. He’s not afraid to hear you pour out your heart.
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Habakkuk’s Lament (Habakkuk 1:1-4)
Habakkuk was deeply distressed over the sin and injustice taking place in Judah. He begins his lament by asking, “How long, Lord?”
He feels that though he’s been calling out to God for help, God has not been listening. The law is paralyzed and the wicked are closing in on the righteous — justice is being perverted.
The entire book of Habakkuk addresses this lament. God explains to Habakkuk what his plans are for Judah. They are not exactly what Habakkuk hoped but in the end, things will turn out for good.
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Related: What to Do When God Says No: A Lesson from Habakkuk
Jesus’ Lament on the Cross (Matthew 27:45-46)
Last but certainly not least, Jesus expresses his genuine emotions to the Father from the cross.
About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”).
Even the Son of God laments. Even the Son of God felt forgotten by the Father.
He expressed these genuine emotions to God because he had a relationship with God that enabled him to feel safe sharing how he felt with the Father.
If you feel forgotten or abandoned by God, why not share that? God is big enough to handle our pain and emotions. God knows how we feel even when we hide. When we’re open and honest, we create space for God to enter into our pain with us and bring healing to our brokenness.
Related: The Road To Emmaus: The Need for Faith In Suffering
Practical Ways to Bring Honest Emotions to God
If you struggle with bringing your honest emotions to God, you’re not alone. Here are a few practical things that can help.
Journaling
Journaling is a great way to process your emotions with God. Grab a journal, open to an empty page, and write down what you’re feeling. When you’re finished, take a moment to pray and ask for God’s help as you walk through these difficult experiences.
Ask Someone to Pray for You
Sometimes when we’re struggling, it’s hard to bring our honest pain to God ourselves. Consider asking a friend who knows you well to pray and intercede on your behalf.
Liturgy
Incorporating liturgical prayers into your Christian walk can be incredibly meaningful. If you don’t have the words to pray, liturgy can help provide the language you need to express your pain. If you are new to liturgy, start with the Psalms of Lament. Psalm 6, 13, 38, 42, and 130 are great psalms of lament to pray. Every Moment Holy is a series of prayer books with modern liturgies for daily life. Many of these liturgies can help you voice pain and sorrow when you are not sure how. You can also access the Book of Common Prayer online. It includes liturgies of prayer and thanksgiving for various circumstances.
