Gò0dNews for Everyone
How To Cry (Part 1)
T
by Brian Branam
here is a book of the Bible that teaches us how to
regret and remorse. He’s not getting through it as much
cry. Lamentations is the Scripture’s record of the
as he is thinking it through. He works at what the Lord
mournful reflections of the grief-stricken prophet
has brought him to. Jeremiah has worked at preaching;
Jeremiah following Jerusalem’s destruction. Here are
now, he will work at weeping. Your time in the Word
some takeaways from the Bible’s book of tears.
is essential, and so is your weeping. Take time in it and
Embrace It, Don’t Avoid It
work at it.
In a hedonistic culture, we put a premium on pleasure and the avoidance of pain. When there is a loss, we want to rush through it and get back to life. Jeremiah doesn’t rush through his sorrow; he records it. He shares
Devotional Challenge Read Lamentations 1-3 • Write down some of the emotions Jeremiah shares in these passages.
the sights, sounds, and emotions of the moment. He
• What do these passages teach you about the Lord?
reflects on what brought him to this place and sees the
• What do these passages teach you about some of
Lord’s purpose in it.
the actions we should take during times of lament?
“Is it nothing to you, all you who pass by? Look and see if there is any sorrow like my sorrow, which was brought upon me, which the Lord inflicted on the day of his fierce anger” (Lamentations 1:12). When it comes to sorrow, don’t rush it. Embrace it. Pause. Look around. Listen. Write it down. Answer the question, “Why am I here?” Work At It, Don’t Get Over It When it comes to Christian disciplines, we tend to think of actions like serving, witnessing, giving, worshipping, praying, and journaling. What about weeping? Should we not work at weeping as well? Lamentations is an action-packed book of the Bible. Jeremiah weeps. He grinds his teeth. He
If you are not in a time of lament, think back to your
remembers. He cries out. He groans. In Lamentations,
last time of great loss. Did you use that time to deepen
the Lord is at work. He crushes. He cuts down. He lays
your relationship with God, take corrective action, or
waste. He scorns.
did you rush through it? If you are currently in a time of
“He has filled me with bitterness; he has sated me
lament, use Lamentations to guide you through a time
with wormwood. He has made my teeth grind on gravel
of mourning that will help you deepen your relationship
and made me cower in ashes” (Lamentations 3:16-17).
with God and make some needed course corrections.
He is in a painful conversation with God that involves
6 // June 2022
About The Author
Instead of getting over it, Jeremiah is getting into it. Brian Branam is the Pastor of Liberty Baptist Church, a multi-site church in NW Georgia. For more of his material visit www.FeelMyFaith.com.
