Songs of the Brokenhearted

From the Pastor’s Desk by Scott Dunford

As a child I remember hearing the song in children’s church, “Jesus wants everybody happy.” While there is joy in following Christ, all of us have experienced the harsh reality that joy is often mixed with pain. While Jesus gives us strength to endure and even overcome our trials, trials and suffering are almost guaranteed to the sons and daughters of man. The Bible is full of praises to our God, but it is also full of heartbreaking laments. Here are five ways that Biblical laments can encourage your weary soul:

1. Laments tell us that we are not alone in our struggles.

Our grief is often isolating. Human isolation is hard enough, but when we feel isolated from God or even feel like he has abandoned us, the pain takes on difficult spiritual dimensions. As we read the Psalms of lament such as Psalm 44 or Psalm 13, we find that we are not alone in our pain and feelings of isolation.

2. Laments allow us to grieve our suffering Biblically.

Scriptural laments give us permission to express our pain to God. A lament like Psalm 13 walks us through how bringing our pain and questions to God, leads us to a place where we are reminded of his grace, and then are able to trust him again. Grief is real and healing is possible. We can bring that pain to God and know that he will receive it and us. 

3. Laments give wise and holy language to our pain.

When we are hurting, we may feel like expressing that pain to God is irreverent or a lack of faith, but when we bring our pain to him, he takes it and transforms it. The Psalms pull no punches in their expression of human emotion. David laments that God has forgotten him, he cries that he’d have been better off dead, he weeps that wickedness is overwhelming him and that it feels like God has forgotten him. I think what makes these songs holy is that they are directed to God himself. These laments are an act of faith. When we pray, cry, and even complain to God, we are saying that we still trust in him. The Psalms can shape our language in ways that God has declared holy and good.

4. Laments encourage us to hold on to God through our pain.

I really love how Psalm 44, after line upon line of heartbreaking statements of confusion and abandonment, ends with, “Rise up and help us; rescue us because of your unfailing love.” One line is all, but it’s enough. Sometimes in our pain, all we can cling to is that Jesus died on the cross and therefore we know God loves us. Psalm 43 is even more poignant, “Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.” The laments preach to our soul and say, “your pain is real, but God is greater than your pain.”

5. Laments remind us that our suffering isn’t forever. 

In the middle of our suffering, it feels like our joy may never return. Yet we see that God does indeed deliver.  Like Psalm 30:5 reminds us, “weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.” David moved through his pain into rejoicing and so will I. Even for those who suffer unto death, God’s joy remains for them. The ancient words of lament comfort, instruct, and encourage us to keep our eyes on the Lord and wait for him. As Job said in the midst of his suffering, “though he slay me, yet will I trust in him.”