Ignoring pain does not make it go away…we lament not only to express it, we need it to heal. What a time to be alive—a phrase often said when life feels full and the world seems bright. Yet lately, I’ve been thinking about these words differently. The world feels heavy, fractured, aflame. The grief is overwhelming. Each day brings fresh confusion, anger, frustration, and pain. For me, the phrase has shifted from joyful amazement to a cry of astonishment and heartbreak. There are so many moments these days when words fail and only tears come. It is difficult to express the depth of emotion without being consumed by it. The weight feels like more than a human can bear. So, where do we turn? How can we express without holding back? In those moments, I turn to Scripture—especially the Psalms. They are filled with unfiltered emotion: joy, sorrow, despair, longing, hope. Psalm 88 stands out to me; it ends without resolution, yet shows the raw power of crying out to God. It reminds us that relationship with God is not made only of joy—it is layered, complex, and invites honest reflection on who we are in light of who God is.
You may be asking: Why lament? Why dwell in grief? Why practice lamenting during Lent? Lament is not wallowing. It is a prayerful, hopeful bridge from the dust of Ash Wednesday to the promise of resurrection. It gives us space to bring sorrow, anger, and questions before God while still turning toward healing. Lament helps us to honestly name the brokenness around us and cultivate hope in the midst of it. It draws us to look deeply at Christ’s own suffering as He approaches the cross and reminds us of our need for a Savior.
Reflection Questions: Where have you felt the weight of the world most strongly lately? How have you brought that burden before God? What emotions have you hesitated to bring honestly before God? What might it look like to speak them openly in prayer? Where do you notice both brokenness and hope in your life right now? How might God be inviting you to hold both together? How does reflecting on Jesus’ suffering shape your understanding of your own? Where do you sense God’s nearness in this season?