Biblical Lament Workshop
Legacy Christian Fellowship 01/18/25
Karen Nevling, Calvary Chapel Elizabeth [email protected]
Expected outcomes from today’s workshop:
WHAT IS IT?
Biblical Lament is a biblical language expressing strong feelings of sorrow or grief or anguish to God – Honest emotions; When we’re hurting or frightened or suffering. Ryan Higginbottom says Lament should be the primary way Christians process emotions in God’s presence.
Four common components of lament
Is there a difference in the way the world handles this and the way followers of Jesus handle these feelings?
More specifically, how do you handle these hard feelings? Circle the ones that apply to you in the answer above.
Where do you go when you are overwhelmed with grief, sadness or even anger?
Why do we try so hard to fake fine?
#2 – What is your experience with Biblical Lament? Have you ever heard it taughta?
What do you think the difference is between lamenting and venting?
Psalm 13
For the choir director: A psalm of David.
1- O LORD, how long will you forget me? Forever?
How long will you look the other way?
2- How long must I struggle with anguish in my soul,
with sorrow in my heart every day?
How long will my enemy have the upper hand?
3- Turn and answer me, O LORD my God!
Restore the sparkle to my eyes, or I will die.
4- Don’t let my enemies gloat, saying, “We have defeated him!”
Don’t let them rejoice at my downfall.
5- But I trust in your unfailing love.
I will rejoice because you have rescued me.
6- I will sing to the LORD
because he is good to me.
#3 – Choose from these Psalms, and find the four primary components of Lament.
Psalms 3, 4, 6 (shorter) Psalms 69, 74, 77 (longer)
#4 – In the following passages, what are the hard questions that Job asks God?
3:11, 12, 16, 23
In chapter 10, Job speaks from the bitterness of his soul (vs 1)
10:3, 8, 15, 18
13:24, 25
What hard questions do people ask God or What hard questions have you asked God or would like to ask God? Discuss in your group.
#5 –The Grief Journey discussion and prayer – Page 7
Payer points for someone going through emotional upheaval – for whatever reason:
1 - Ryan Higginbottom: https://openthebible.org/article/biblical-lament-what-it-is-and-how-to-do-it/
2 - No More Faking Fine: Ending the Pretending Paperback – January 10, 2017 by Esther Fleece Allen (Author), Louie and Shelley Giglio (Foreword)
3 - Desperate for Hope: Questions We Ask God in Suffering, Loss, and Longing Paperback – May 1, 2023 by Vaneetha Risner (Author)
4 - Tyndale NLT Bible Filament-Enabled Edition
Resources
Suffering Is Never for Nothing Hardcover – February 1, 2019 by Elisabeth Elliot (Author)
A Path Through Suffering Paperback – October 24, 2003 by Elisabeth Elliot (Author)
Music
Lauren Daigle – Thank God I do; Trust in You; Hold on to Me
Mercy Me – Even If Brandon Lake - Gratitude
Legacy Christian Fellowship 01/18/25
Karen Nevling, Calvary Chapel Elizabeth [email protected]
Expected outcomes from today’s workshop:
- Understand lament – What it is, why and how to do it
- Suffering; God’s purpose versus Satan’s purpose
- Accept the invitation
- Stop the faking
- Ask the hard questions
- Get a glimpse of the journey
WHAT IS IT?
Biblical Lament is a biblical language expressing strong feelings of sorrow or grief or anguish to God – Honest emotions; When we’re hurting or frightened or suffering. Ryan Higginbottom says Lament should be the primary way Christians process emotions in God’s presence.
Four common components of lament
- Turn to the Lord
- Complaint
- Ask, petition
- Trust
Is there a difference in the way the world handles this and the way followers of Jesus handle these feelings?
More specifically, how do you handle these hard feelings? Circle the ones that apply to you in the answer above.
Where do you go when you are overwhelmed with grief, sadness or even anger?
Why do we try so hard to fake fine?
#2 – What is your experience with Biblical Lament? Have you ever heard it taughta?
What do you think the difference is between lamenting and venting?
Psalm 13
For the choir director: A psalm of David.
1- O LORD, how long will you forget me? Forever?
How long will you look the other way?
2- How long must I struggle with anguish in my soul,
with sorrow in my heart every day?
How long will my enemy have the upper hand?
3- Turn and answer me, O LORD my God!
Restore the sparkle to my eyes, or I will die.
4- Don’t let my enemies gloat, saying, “We have defeated him!”
Don’t let them rejoice at my downfall.
5- But I trust in your unfailing love.
I will rejoice because you have rescued me.
6- I will sing to the LORD
because he is good to me.
#3 – Choose from these Psalms, and find the four primary components of Lament.
Psalms 3, 4, 6 (shorter) Psalms 69, 74, 77 (longer)
#4 – In the following passages, what are the hard questions that Job asks God?
3:11, 12, 16, 23
In chapter 10, Job speaks from the bitterness of his soul (vs 1)
10:3, 8, 15, 18
13:24, 25
What hard questions do people ask God or What hard questions have you asked God or would like to ask God? Discuss in your group.
#5 –The Grief Journey discussion and prayer – Page 7
Payer points for someone going through emotional upheaval – for whatever reason:
- Courage and freedom to lament
- To cry out to God
- To express true feelings to God
- To ask God the hard questions
- To express anger to God, so they don’t become bitter and angry
- That God will meet them in the midst of the suffering and lament
1 - Ryan Higginbottom: https://openthebible.org/article/biblical-lament-what-it-is-and-how-to-do-it/
2 - No More Faking Fine: Ending the Pretending Paperback – January 10, 2017 by Esther Fleece Allen (Author), Louie and Shelley Giglio (Foreword)
3 - Desperate for Hope: Questions We Ask God in Suffering, Loss, and Longing Paperback – May 1, 2023 by Vaneetha Risner (Author)
4 - Tyndale NLT Bible Filament-Enabled Edition
Resources
Suffering Is Never for Nothing Hardcover – February 1, 2019 by Elisabeth Elliot (Author)
A Path Through Suffering Paperback – October 24, 2003 by Elisabeth Elliot (Author)
Music
Lauren Daigle – Thank God I do; Trust in You; Hold on to Me
Mercy Me – Even If Brandon Lake - Gratitude