Day 19: The Privilege of Lamenting

Question: What does it look like to come honestly before God and admit that you feel crushed, confused, and hurt, and it seems like He hasn’t or won’t intervene?

Bible Passage: 1 Samuel 1:1-16

Reflection: Scripture gives us multiple stories of lament. Stories of God’s people: as a whole, and as individuals, going to God with their feelings and questions and laying them at his feet. There’s even a whole book, Lamentations, that shows how raw and real the people were with God about their circumstances.

Sometimes in scripture, God intervened, and sometimes he didn’t.

When King David lamented over Jonathon’s death, God didn’t hear him back.

God didn’t rescue Israel the way that they’d hoped, but one day he will redeem them.

God, through scripture, gives us permission and access to acknowledge our feelings and questions, and lay them at his feet.

Hannah’s story in First Samuel is a beautiful picture of our access and privilege. Hannah takes her pain straight to God.

When Hannah comes before the Lord, she is so broken that neither her husband nor the priest understands. She can’t even make words come out of her mouth. Weeping and kneeling before a holy God, knowing he had the power to change her circumstance, but hadn’t, she lays it at his feet. And even when no one else understood, God never rebuked her. He drew near to her and met her there.

Hannah’s lament wasn’t a lack of faith-it was an expression of it. Choosing to bring your pain before God instead of away from Him.

We’ve gotten really good at slapping on masks, numbing out, or sidestepping how we feel, so it helps us keep God at a distance.

Because maybe you’ve lamented before, and he didn’t fix it, so now it seems risky or even pointless.

If we’re being brutally honest, maybe part of the fear is this: “If he doesn’t move this time, I don’t know if I can trust him again.”

Can I remind you in this moment? He’s big enough to intervene, but righteous and holy enough that he may choose His way instead of ours.  Because one day he will set everything right. One day, lamenting will be a thing of the past, and you will stand in the presence of the God who redeemed it all.  

Let his closeness and his love drown out the enemy's whisper that He is distant and unbothered by your circumstances. Let God’s presence rest so heavy in the middle of your pain that praise oozes out of your soul with a peace that knows one day he will set all things right.

Prayer: Compassionate Lord, I’m sorry for settling for a distant relationship with You because of fear. I come now as honestly as I know how—weeping, grieving, and crushed. This world and these circumstances feel broken, and I don’t understand why You’re allowing it. How long, Lord, will it be this way? Draw near to me. Comfort my heart. Silence the enemy’s lies that say You don’t care. Remind me of Your redemption plan and the hope I have in You. Help my unbelief and draw me closer to Your love. In Jesus’ name I cry out to you, please hear my prayer, Amen.