7 Ways to PraySample

The Prayer of Lament: Crying Out to God

When I was nineteen, one of my closest friends was killed in a car crash. Six months later a friend died from a brain aneurysm while hiking in Nepal. Seven months later my beloved grandfather died. I went from being an earnest but fun-appreciating university student to one walking around in a daze. This period of grief overwhelmed me, and I threw myself into my studies and my part-time employment. I tried to mute the stinging pain by staying busy. Looking back, I wish I’d then known the prayer of lament. 

This type of prayer is simply sharing with God our pain, anguish, and heartache. Instead of backing away from God, we come before him face-to-face. The psalmists pray this way, asking and even demanding that God help them. Sometimes they complain about false accusations, persecution, or sickness. Usually they come to a change of mood at the end—they know that God has heard their prayers and will act to save them. 

Psalm 13 reflects this pattern, starting off, “How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me?” (v. 1). The psalmist wonders how long he’ll be left in this state of sorrow and wrestling (v. 2). But he pours out his grief to the Lord, affirming his faithful God in the last stanza: “But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation” (v. 5).

When I learned to lament, I found a safe space to pour out all my emotions to God. As we come before him with our fears, pains, hurts, and questions, we find him running toward us with arms outstretched in love. 

Whatever you face, I pray you’ll be able to approach the loving Lord and share what you’re feeling, that you too will find release, strengthening, and hope. 

Comforting Father, you are always eager to hear me, but I may feel too sad or afraid to come to you. Give me the courage to voice my fears and pain, knowing that you love me.