Psalms of Lament

 Psalms: 3-7, 10, 13, 14, 17, 22, 25-28, 31, 35, 38-43, 51-59, 61, 64, 69-71, 77, 86, 88, 89, 102, 109, 120, 130, 139, 141-143 


Create Your Own Psalm of Lament

These psalms fall into the broad categories of: individual or communal (group), or both. Their basic structure includes:

  1. Calling upon God

  2. Describing a complaint (individual or communal)

  3. Remembering God’s faithfulness in the past and how God helped before

  4. Asking for help from God

  5. Declaring trust in God

Read through one of the psalms listed above. Make it your own. Does a certain stanza really resonate? Copy it down and then keep talking/writing. Complain, cry, moan. God can take it. Then ask what you need. Finish with declaring about what you believe, the truth of who God is, and declare your trust in God. (if you need to add this, “I believe, help my unbelief!” )

Prayer

Lord, I cry out to you from the depths of my life. Hurt, confusion, and sorrow fill me. The damage from my own sin and the sin of others mark me. But I can stand because there is forgiveness with You. There is abundant redemption. My future is securely in Your hands. Thus, may I hope.

Amen and Amen!