Lament

In times of great pain, grief, and sorrow we are tempted to just shut down and withdraw from people as well as God. Though it feels better in the moment, it unfortunately can gradually disconnect us from an important source of our resilience: Our relationships with our community and God.  In lament, we are willing to let pain, grief, and other strong feelings enter our hearts with the intent to bring them before God in whatever way we can bring them to him. This can include using words, gestures, groans, tears, outcries, or symbolic acts. We can do this privately or in community.  God gladly receives our laments, knowing they are a sign of our trust and willingness to be truly ourselves with Him. He already knows what we feel and what is on our hearts, and He understands it. And, our lament will affect him. He takes it in and responds to us out of his compassion and love. 

Our lament may be something like: "Lord, five people died today. We fought so hard, unsuccessfully! Lord, have mercy! My heart aches for them and for their families. Lord, when will this end! I commit them to you and your care. I need your comfort and presence right now. They are my rod and staff in the valley of shadows."

"In lament we acknowledge distress over a painful occurrence and present it to God and the community; both are expected to pay attention, hear, and resonate. As God receives human pain into his heart and processes it in divine ways, he is expected to act according to who he is and to fulfill his promises now and at the end of time." (From T&R Handbook)