In congregational worship, praise is more easily expressed than grief. But how do we hold both when we gather before God?
Scripture often tells us to be strong, not to be afraid (Deuteronomy 3:22, Joshua 1:9, Isaiah 41:10, Matthew 14:27, John 14:27).
Yet, the psalmist cries, “How long, O Lord?” (Psalm 13:1-2, 6:3, 79:5). How long till the sick are healed? How long until the broken are made whole? And when the suffering is ours, we ask: Why me? Why us?
We know that we can return to our faith and say: It is okay. All will be well, by God’s mercy and grace.
But must we always say that when we are not “okay”? What if, instead, we bring our lamentations to God—openly, vulnerably—in worship? Will those who are “okay” be willing to sit with the sorrow of those who are not?
Worship is not only feeling. It is action. It is expression and participation. To lament is to act—to give voice to pain. And when one laments, others join in in solidarity. Even reciting a shared prayer becomes an act of love.
In the flow of worship, lament serves not as a “downer”, but as truth-telling before God, making space for all voices in the congregation in God’s presence. It ensures that worship reflects real life, not just the answered prayers.
In the flow of worship, lament serves not as a “downer”, but as truth-telling before God, making space for all voices in the congregation in God’s presence. It ensures that worship reflects real life, not just the answered prayers.
Hymns like “O Love That Will Not Let Me Go”, “Abide With Me”, “We Cannot Measure How You Heal”, and “How Long, O Lord” (Sovereign Grace) can be corporate expressions of lament, allowing worship to embrace all of life’s emotions, not just joy.
When is it appropriate to express lament in worship? Lament is usually intentionally planned in the season of Lent. But when grief comes unexpectedly, where can we incorporate the lament in the liturgy? There are many possibilities: it can be in the confession, intercession, sermon response, silence, responsive prayer, a choral anthem or a congregational song.
The decision will depend on the context. With sensitivity to both the flow of worship and the grief being named, the worship leader, the worship team or the pastor becomes a shepherd—holding space for God’s people to bring their whole selves before him.
It may not be the norm, but lamenting our brokenness in the presence of the faith community can be part of the healing process.
As members of the body of Christ, may our sensitivity to the brokenness of the world be heightened. May we learn to be honest and vulnerable in the presence of others—and to accept their vulnerability—so that our congregations may become places where God’s healing work among us is done.