Have you ever learned the biblical language of lament? Most of us haven’t.
As children, we felt deeply and expressed our grief freely. But we were hushed as babies, shushed as children. We learned early on that our grief made others uncomfortable and that our tears were unwelcome intruders. Over time, we learned to silence our sorrow.
We buried our grief. We pushed it down, hoping it wouldn’t resurface. But like a beach ball held underwater, the farther we push it, the more forcefully it resurfaces. Or maybe it leaks out sideways, wounding others in its wake. But grief was never meant to be hidden, nor was our heartache meant to be carried alone.
God has given us the gift of lament—a sacred way to hold space for our pain, and the pain of others.
Lament invites us to bring our deepest hurts to God, wrestle with Him through our sorrow, and find healing in His presence. Though over one-third of the Psalms are songs of lament, this powerful practice is unfamiliar to most 21st-century American believers.
It’s time to rediscover this sacred gift—and step into the healing and hope God offers through the language of lament.