It’s Okay to Lament and Ask God Why

A lament is defined as a passionate expression of grief or sorrow, and Biblically speaking, laments are expressed to God through prayer. It is a critical way for Christians to process suffering. But many Christians have grown up being told to look on the bright side, to give thanks and “have faith,” as if lamenting weren’t part of said faith.

A frequent reference is a man from the Bible named Job, who is regarded as having great faith in the face of great suffering. This line from Job 13:15 is frequently quoted, “Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him,” and Christians are encouraged to follow this example and give praise and thanks to God no matter how grave our circumstances.

And while I agree that we’re to always give praise and thanks to God, what is missing is permission to lament in our suffering. As if we’re just supposed to walk around with a smile on our faces in the face of suffering, because to do otherwise would imply that we aren’t thankful or that we don’t have faith.

That’s not what God calls us to do. And it’s not what Job did either.

Yes, Job said the line quoted above. But that’s only the first part. The second part of the same verse says, “Even so, I will defend my own ways before Him.”

And Job did just that. The book of Job is filled with Job’s laments and questions.

It seems that Job’s relationship with God was strong enough that Job could come to Him openly and honestly in his pain and suffering. He trusted that he could ask God hard questions, and he had faith that God would answer.

And Job was not silenced until God did answer him.

Though God’s response did not answer the questions Job had asked specifically, He did respond. And God’s response led Job to an even greater reverence and understanding of who God is.

And God did not punish Job for all of his questioning and lamenting. God rewarded Job. And Job is still regarded as a man of great faith.

So if you find yourself in a season of suffering, and you want to follow the example of Job, then go to God with your sorrow, your pain, your confusion, and your questions. 

Take your laments to God. He is waiting to meet you there.