GRIEVE AS PEOPLE WHO HAVE HOPE

But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about those who have died, so that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have died. 14 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14

Lament Psalms is the largest category or groupings within the 150 Psalms found in the Old Testament. Scholars consider 65 of them to be Psalms of Lament, which is almost 45 percent of the complete collection of Psalms. Lament can be both individuals well as communal. Lament is not necessarily moaning or grumbling before God even though it sounds that way. In fact, one can notice a pattern in these lament Psalms. Here are the 4 to 5 stages that are expressed in a Psalm of Lament:

• In the first few lines, the Psalmist will bring TO ATTENTION to God about the situation that he/she is experiencing.

• There will be a FORMAL COMPLAINT by the Psalmist to God about the situation. This is not due to lack of faith, in fact, it is faith at its best.

• In the third stage, the Psalmist will make a PLEA FOR HELP and that to God

• What follows this stage is unique. The Psalmist will express some sort of CONFIDENCE in God and that God will come to his rescue when everything else has failed. This confidence happens, as some scholars say, due to lapse of time. In fact, for me, this is the stage that fascinates me every time I read a lament Psalm

• Finally, the Psalmist will make a VOW to God and that he will talk about this in the congregation of the faithful. This is not the place where the psalmist is bargaining with God instead, he is confident that God will come through for him.

In moments of loss or grief of any kind whether it is a loss of job or relationships or life, the lament psalms prove to be a great resource to speak to God. I think with the recent disruption in the life of the grieving family and the church community, we need to engage the lament psalms to find hope.

Lament psalms are an invitation to grieve well for the loss that we are experiencing. Grieving, in my view, for any loss is God’s greatest gift to His people. Grieving is not a sign of hopelessness but a confidence and trust in the God who hears us and delivers us. If anyone says that grieving is antithetical to the Christian faith, it is important on our part to not to engage in such conversations.

Our world was turned upside down with the prolonged hospitalization of our loved one. We experienced glimpses of hope and that kept us going. We prayed earnestly like the Psalmist. We complained, we pleaded for help and in the end, God moved us to a place where we can rest in God’s goodness. We may not have all the answers to the questions but in due time, God will bring us to that place of rest and comfort.

This is what we can do during times like this. Pray for the family that is grieving. As you have done before, continue even now to walk alongside with this family. Extend your ministry of presence and be with them in their grieving process. For your part, grieve well over the loss that you are feeling. Ignoring such feelings can be lead us to grave consequences. Remember, grieving is God’s gift to us.

There is good news in scripture for all of us who are grieving. This good news came to us in Emmanuel – God with us. We do not worship a God who is far removed from us but One who ‘became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth.’ In short, we have among us a God who grieves with us in our pain. This good news extends even further than His promised presence with us. He will not let us stay in our state of grief instead will move us to a place where we can experience His comfort and care.

May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it. (1 Thessalonians 5:23-24)