LEARNING TO LAMENT
Lamentations 3.16-24
1 Thessalonians 4.13 “But we do not want you to … grieve as others do who have no hope.” (esv)
Acts 8.2 “Devout men buried Stephen and made great lamentation over him.”
vv. 17-18 “… my soul is bereft of peace; I have forgotten what happiness is; so I say, ‘My endurance has perished; so has my hope from the LORD.’” (esv)
LAMENT IS IMPORTANT …
WHEN OUR Anguish IS Insistent
vv. 19-20 “Remember my affliction and my wanderings, the wormwood and the gall! My soul continually remembers it and is bowed down within me.”
Lamentations 1.1 “How lonely sits the city that was full of people!” (esv)
FOR HOW WE Process OUR Pain
Psalm 86.1 “Incline your ear, O LORD, and answer me, for I am poor and needy.” (esv)
The Process of Lament:
Repeatedly Turn to God
Humbly Complain to God
Boldly Ask from God
Willingly Trust in God
BECAUSE IT Finds GOD’S Faithfulness
v. 21 “But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope …” (esv)
Ecclesiastes 7.2 “It is better to go to a house of mourning than … a house of feasting …” (csb)
Philippians 4.8 “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” (niv)
vv. 22–23 “The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” (esv)
v. 24 “‘The LORD is my portion,’ says my soul, ‘therefore I will hope in him.’”
Romans 8.39 “… in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (esv)