“Practicing Lament” is a 30-minute audio guide that walks you through five movements of biblical lament. We pray this resource helps you draw near to God in suffering, grief, or loss.
℗ 2025 Austin Stone Music
Austin Stone Worship
2025
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Welcome to the PRACTICING LAMENT liturgical guide. Over the next 30 minutes, we'll walk through a guided experience to help you engage with the ancient practice of biblical lament.
We see in Scripture that lament is worship-a God-given process to bring the depths of our hearts before the Lord in prayer and ask Him to lead us toward trust and praise. Whether you come hurting, wounded, feeling deep pain, or grieving, we invite you to slow down and take your time. Remember the invitation of Jesus in Matthew 11:
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
From the jarring moment when Adam and Eve were banished east of Eden and the black ink of sin spilled onto every page of creation, toil, weariness, and pain have become our norm. And while we have confidence that sin and death will one day be reversed by the cross and resurrection of Christ, our bones still ache with the echo of Eden. As sojourners made for heavenly glories yet limited creatures traversing a fallen land, how do we endure the curse of sin and cling to the promises of a good God?
We lament.
Lament is how we learn to live in the tension between the fall of Eden and the dawn of New Jerusalem.
As we explore the terrain of the Psalms we discover that God's Word is not absent of a guide for our broken hearts. Over a third of the Psalms are lament. What great encouragement that God can not only handle our deepest pain and raw emotions, He welcomes us to speak them to Him freely and often.
With the Psalms as our guide, we'll walk through these five movements found in biblical lament:
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As we start, grab a notebook and a pen. Find a quiet, comfortable space, and take a moment to get settled.
Now, take the next 60 seconds to close your eyes. Breathe deeply. Sit in silence. Hold nothing back. Pay attention to what thoughts and feelings float to the surface of your heart and mind.
Consider this: how are you feeling toward God right now? If it's helpful, write your answers down on the page in front of you.
Allow 1 minute for silence and reflection.
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The first step of biblical lament is to orient ourselves toward God. Read this passage from Psalm 77:1-2:
I cry aloud to God, aloud to God, and he will hear me. In the day of my trouble I seek the Lord
When the psalmist laments, he begins by reminding himself that he isn't just talking to the wind or complaining to a friend. He's crying out in prayer to the God of the universe-there's no better person to process your pain, doubts, and loss with.
Take a moment now to set your mind on God, remembering His power, His goodness, His sovereignty, and trusting He readily bends His ear to His hurting children.
Allow 2 minutes to orient your heart toward God.
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The next movement of lament is bringing your complaint before the Lord. May this psalm written by King David and cried out by our suffering Savior on the cross give you permission to bear the deepest parts of your soul to God:
Psalm 22:1-2
My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning? O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer, and by night, but I find no rest.
Take some time now to bring your complaint before the Lord. Describe your struggle, fear, or loss to God in the most honest terms possible. Even if it's messy, He can handle it. No matter what questions you have for God, pray them like the psalmist. Come humble but not demanding. Bring your pain, not your pride. Let your frustrations expressed in lament push you toward God, not away. If you don't know what to say, pray Psalm 22 as a guide.
Begin bringing your complaint before the Lord now.
Allow 3 minutes to bring your complaint to God.
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Every biblical lament has a turning point, often marked by the words "yet," "but," or "then." This is the movement from complaint to a posture of trust. Read these examples from the Psalms:
Psalm 3:3 "BUT you, O LORD, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head."
Psalm 22:3 "YET you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel."
Psalm 77:10-11 "THEN I said, ' will appeal to this, to the years of the right hand of the Most High.' I will remember the deeds of the LORD; yes, I will remember your wonders of old."
The turn marks an inflection point-an intentional shift in focus from the cause of your lament to trusting in a God who has done and will do all He's promised. This is essential because a lamenting trust isn't simply a confession of a belief or conviction. It's a tangible trust lived out despite circumstances.
Take a moment in your own heart to turn from the cause of your lament toward trust in God. Bring to mind who He is, His faithfulness, and all He has promised you in His Word.
Allow 2 minutes to turn toward trust in God.
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After bringing our complaint and turning toward trust, let us call upon the Lord and ask Him boldly for relief.
Psalm 10:12:
Arise, O LORD; O God, lift up your hand; forget not the afflicted
The psalmist's confidence in God and experience of His faithfulness compel him to make bold requests. Like the writers of biblical lament, we can appeal to God based on His character and promises. As we lean into lament, the trials of life can become the occasion to deepen our dependence on Him. We can ask boldly and draw near to the throne of grace with confidence, for we do not have a High Priest who is unable to sympathize with our weakness, but one who was tempted in every way and did not sin.
Take the next few minutes to boldly ask God to move in your heart, life, and circumstances. If you feel at a loss for words, pray one of these petitions from the Psalms:
Ask Him boldly for relief
Allow a minutes to ask God boldly for relief.
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The final movement is choosing to praise. The means of lament is heartfelt, honest prayer, but the end goal is worship. Hear how David ends his lament in Psalm 13 after pouring out his questions and sorrows before the Lord:
Psalm 13:5-6
But I have trusted in your steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation. I will sing to the LORD, because he has dealt bountifully with me.
Through lament, we can invite the Holy Spirit to lead us to faith-filled worship, even if our song is still mingled with tears. Augustine said that lament psalms were "a divine lesson for our affections-God's way of reshaping our desires and perceptions so that they learn to lament in the right things and take joy in the right things." Ask the Holy Spirit to guide your heart toward its intended destination-from complaint and request to rejoicing in the One who holds you now.
What attribute of God have you experienced in this season that you want to praise Him for?
Take a moment now to praise God for who He is.
Allow 2 minutes to praise God for who He is.
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As we conclude, we recognize there are no quick solutions to pain and grief. The weight of sorrow and the sting of loss often remain longer than we expect or desire. This is when we return to lament, knowing that trust isn't simply a one-time decision but a continuous journey with God. We must practice lament over and over so it can keep leading us to trust. As Charles Spurgeon said, "I have learned to kiss the waves that throw me up against the Rock of Ages." As the waves of life continue to crash and sorrows like sea billows roll, may the practice of lament continue to anchor our souls in our steadfast Rock, Refuge, and Redeemer.
Like the psalmist, let us end our lament in a song of praise:
Sing the hymn "It Is Well" in private or communal worship.
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When peace like a river attendeth my way
When sorrows like sea billows roll
Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say
It is well, it is well, with my soul
It is well with my soul
It is well, it is well, with my soul
It is well, it is well, with my soul
Audio Guide
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Practicing Lament
2025
Austin Stone Worship
℗ 2025 Austin Stone Music
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