The Power of Lament: Finding Comfort in Scripture Amidst Life’s Trials

Leaving a Word of Faith or deliverance community can bring a storm of emotions—grief, confusion, anger, and even fear about one’s relationship with God. In these environments, pain is often spiritualized, dismissed, or blamed on a lack of faith or a demonic presence. As a result, Christians may feel isolated and unsure how to process their hurt honestly and biblically. Many, including myself, have found it difficult to pray or to seek support from others for fear of being misunderstood. After I left this belief system, I cried out to God for help in this area, with the hope of one day guiding others—especially women—into a more authentic prayer life. What He gave me was profound: the gift of biblical lament.

I discovered lament during a period not only of spiritual transition but also personal crisis. My husband, at 46, was placed on disability due to a chronic illness. He has cerebral brain atrophy but the cause of it at this point is unknown. At the date of writing this, he has been out of work for two years and is 47 years old. It is progressive and his symptoms include dementia, behavioral changes, seizures, and aphasia. This is on top of the other health issues he already had. Shortly after being taken off work, my daughter was diagnosed with a brain tumor. I am happy to say that said tumor as of today has been miraculously healed, praise be to God! Through the discipline of lament, I learned to come before God honestly and intimately, developing a living, resilient trust in Him. My prayer is that others who read this and are experiencing trials will be encouraged to do the same.

The Biblical Foundation of Lament

Lament is a profound expression of sorrow or mourning, deeply rooted in Scripture and reflects the human experience of suffering while seeking God’s presence and comfort. According to GotQuestions.org, approximately one third of the Psalms are laments, providing models for both personal and communal prayer in times of distress.

Psalm 13 exemplifies the practice of lament. While the exact context in David’s life is unknown, it serves as an expression for all believers in recurring trials. David’s prayer moves through four key elements:

1. Addressing God in distress: “How long, O Lord?” With the phrase “how long” uttered four times. 

2. Naming the complaint: “Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I take counsel in my soul and have sorrow in my heart? How long shall my enemy be exalted over me?” God seemed distant to David compared to his enemies and circumstances. David felt unseen and forgotten by God. We know that David was in emotional turmoil from verse three because he is expressing the sorrow in his heart. According to commentary, the idea of repetition in the Hebrew in verse two “is that of adding one through to another in an attempt to get out of the difficulty, but they all fail and just add sorrow to sorrow. At night David made his plans, and by day he tried them, but they were all futile, just causing him more grief.” To David, his enemy was getting the better end of the deal.

3. Requesting help: David asks God to “consider and answer” and to “light up my eyes,” expressing his desperation and need. David’s statements imply he was near death and did not want his enemies to prevail over David in his current state. The word “shaken” in Hebrew here is being used in the sense of being moved or overthrown. It is the idea of one that was stable or firm that has now fallen.

4. Renewed trust: David chooses active confidence in God’s steadfast love (*hesed*), affirming trust in God’s salvation and goodness even before circumstances change. God’s “hesed,” or steadfast love, is foundational to the Gospel—it is His covenantal, faithful disposition toward His people. David knew who his God was. It was this that drew his emotions and praise back to God at the end of this psalm. 

A Personal Journey in Lament

Shortly after reading Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy by Mark Vroegop, I encountered a relational crisis with my husband: anger over a decision he made. Rather than react emotionally, I went to God in tears while driving to Bible study. I admitted to God; I couldn’t see Him in my circumstances at that moment and pleaded for His help and healing over my husband. I asked God to help me forgive my husband because his actions were not his normal behavior. What was happening was not his fault and he likely wouldn’t remember it. I acknowledged that even if God chose not to heal my husband as I hoped, I resolved to trust His goodness and faithfulness. By the time I arrived at church, my spirit was renewed, and I was ready to encourage other women. What happened in that moment was something that transformed my prayer life. What started out as a terrible morning where I was upset ended with me in praise and worship of God.

Biblical lament is not mere complaining but a structured, honest conversation with God about pain. It gives us permission to bring our real struggles and questions to the Lord, rather than hiding behind a facade of strength or spiritual performance. The Psalms demonstrate that lament is a legitimate and vital part of faith, fostering intimacy with God and helping us distinguish between the actions of imperfect people and the character of our loving, faithful God.

For those leaving high-control or performance-based faith communities, lament is especially powerful because it gives us permission to be honest about our pain and disappointment, even when others have told us things like "we just need to have more faith." It helps us separate the actions of flawed people from the character of a loving, faithful God. Lament models a relationship with God that is intimate and real, not based on performance but on trust—even when we don’t have all the answers. It moves us from isolation to connection with God and helps us see we are not alone in our struggle. Finally, lament leads us toward hope and praise, even if our circumstances haven’t changed, because it anchors our heart in God’s unchanging love and promises.

Practical Application for Christians Facing Trials

Invite God into your suffering: Bring your pain, confusion, and anger honestly before Him—God welcomes our deepest questions.

Name your struggles: Follow David’s example by articulating your grief and doubts instead of minimizing them.

Seek comfort in Scripture: Pray through lament Psalms or write honest prayers to draw near to God’s compassionate heart.

Anchor hope in God’s promises: Remember that God’s character and the Gospel are unchanging, regardless of your circumstances.

I created a template to help guide you through lament. If that is something that interests you, just enter your information and I will email it to you!

Conclusion: Lament as a Pathway to Hope in Christ

For me, lament has not been a form of despair but a vital discipline that has led to spiritual growth and enduring hope. Lament reminds us that our ultimate hope is not in our circumstances or our ability to resolve them, but in Jesus Christ alone.

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Lament

12 Beloved do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. 14 If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory[b] and of God rests upon you. 15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler. 16 Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name.

1 Peter 4:12-16

For any believer facing trials, the invitation stands: bring your whole self—hurts, doubts, and all—to Jesus. In Him, lament transforms pain into prayer, breaks isolation, and leads to a hope that endures.

Endnotes

"Lament," Bible Hub, accessed July 23, 2025, https://biblehub.com/topical/l/lament.htm.

Charles Spurgeon, “Psalm 13,” The Treasury of David, https://www.blueletterbible.org/Comm/spurgeon_charles/tod/ps013.cfm.

H.C. Leupold, Exposition of Psalms (Grand Rapids: Baker, year), 135.

“What is the meaning of Hesed?” GotQuestions.org, accessed July 23, 2025, https://www.gotquestions.org/hesed.html.

Mark Vroegop, Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy: Discovering the Grace of Lament (Wheaton: Crossway, 2019).