To Feel, To Give

By Ali Massa

When you look at the definition of lament, you can find words like grief, sorrow, and mourn. It is easy to get lost in the sadness and negative emotions that can follow these words. The words can take you to a place of reflection, regret, and loss in your life and your memories. I guess that is kind of the point, right? To lament is to give a passionate expression of grief or sorrow. To lament is to FEEL and to express those feelings.

God has given us the ability to lament and express our grief. God has also given us the ability to GIVE these feelings up to Him. I think the most important step is not that act of expression, it is the final stage of letting go and letting God. We need to allow ourselves the grace to know that we are not able to control our world. We are not able to shelter ourselves, our families, and other loved ones from the hard realty and pain in the world. We are able to control our response, our intentions and our actions when faced with grief and hard times.

When we just have no other words or actions, we must lament to find God’s peace. We must lay all of our worries, troubles, and sadness at his feet. We must allow God to hear our inner most prayers and thoughts. We must be willing to ask for his help and allow him in. We must trust that he has our back and our hearts at all times. He will protect us, even when we feel all is lost.

But I have trusted in your steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in our salvation. I will sing to the Lord, because he has dealt bountifully with me.

Psalm 12:5-6

Each day I will end my day giving my concerns, sorrows, worry, grief, and sadness to God and ask for him to release me while I sleep. I will wake up in the morning knowing that today is a new day that the Lord has made. I will rejoice and be glad in it.