WRITING YOUR OWN PSALM OF LAMENT

A lament or lamentation is a type of prayer for help that names pain, grief, sorrow or difficulty of some kind. A Psalm of Lament is an address to God: a complaint, a request, and usually an expression of trust.

Types of complaints include:
concerns with the psalmists own thoughts and actions, concerns with the actions of an enemy or prevailing attitude, and concerns with God’s action or inaction. They are cries of despair, anger, protest and doubt. They are the largest category of psalms and were a normal part of Israel’s praise and worship.

Individual psalms of Lament include:
3, 4, 5, 7, 9-10, 13, 14, 17, 22, 25, 26, 27, 28, 31, 36, 39, 40:12-17, 41, 42-43, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 59, 61, 64, 70, 71, 77, 86, 89, 120, 139, 141, 142.

Communal psalms of Lament include:
12, 44, 58, 60, 74, 79, 80, 83, 85, 89, 90, 94, 123, 126, 129.

They follow this general structure:
1. Cry for help: Identify God as the person to whom the Psalm is addressed.
2. Complaint or Lament : Articulate the problem and ask God for help.
3. Statement of Trust: Verbalize your trust in God.
4. Petition/ask for Deliverance: Request deliverance/God’s intervention in the problem.
5. Praise: Offer praise and thanksgiving to God for God’s faithfulness

To write your lament:

Take some time and reflect on how the last week (or a time frame of your choice) has been for you.

Make note of the predominant emotions you have been feeling during this time, in particular the more negative ones.

Reflect on a particular situation or recurring theme that you know has been causing you distress, pain or anxiety and that you feel is beyond your control. God is with you in the midst of everything you are feeling and you are invited to lay it all out, without fear or judgment.

1.  Cry for help: Identify God as the person to whom the Psalm is addressed.
(example: O Lord, help me, because I feel lost and don’t know what to do about . . . )

2. Complaint or Lament : Articulate the problem and ask the Lord for help
(example: How long do I have to wait for an answer to this suffering?)

 3.  Statement of Trust: Verbalize your trust in the Lord
(example: I know you hear me when I cry to you.)

4.  Petition/ask for Deliverance: Request deliverance/God’s intervention in the problem.
(example: I beg you to show me the way out of this mess)

5.  Praise: Offer praise and thanksgiving to God for God’s faithfulness
(example: I trust in you, even when life is hard. Thank you for not leaving me alone.)