Lament, Longing, and Landing

Last week called us to lament as we cried out to God with unspeakable sorrow over the senseless loss of life and mourning that befalls our human condition. While we wept in the face of death and yet another collective loss of innocence, we also wept again over our failure to bring about significant changes that would forever eliminate the possibility of mass destruction. We cast our blame upon individuals, organizations, political agendas, and yes, even upon God as we longed for Divine intervention to put an end to the insanity.

We have no answers to the “Why” that accompanies the sighs. But if we stay with our sorrow long enough to listen deeply, we soon realize that our lament is much more than just a complaint. Much more than a wish for change. Lament is the voice of deep pain often accompanied by fear and unbearable losses. And if we listen still deeper, we hear the pain as a longing — longing for healing and wholeness, longing to be restored to the joy of life, longing for comfort, longing for new life.

And when we bring our deep longing to the one who suffers with us and knows what it feels like to be treated unjustly, we find a place for landing safely in the arms of the “God of all Comfort” who hears and holds our own laments. This is the unique element of lament that often gets overlooked. Lament is prayer that turns again to the only one who can speak into our pain. We acknowledge our suffering, but we also rest with faith in the loving presence of God in the midst of our ruins. Jesus himself prayed the lament from the cross when he said in one breath, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” And then cried out, “Into your hand I commit my spirit.”

Lament is encouraged in scripture. It is rich within the Psalms, “Why are you downcast, O my soul and why are you disquieted with me? Hope in God, for I shall praise him, my help and my God.” (Psalm 42:5) “Answer me quickly, O Lord; my spirit fails. Do not hide your face from me…let your good spirit lead me on a level path.” (Psalm 143:7,10)

It is possible to hold both our lamenting and our longing for the good spirit that leads on back onto level paths. We can know both grieving and resting with faith in the one who carries us through.

I pray today that your lament lead you to the safe landing place you need to get through this moment. And I pray that the mercy and justice of God prevail upon us all.