Learning to Lament Part 5: Help Others
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort. He comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any kind of affliction, through the comfort we ourselves receive from God.
2 Corinthians 1:3-4 CSB
Pain and loss have deep purpose in Kingdom work. We don’t simply move through lament, find healing, and consider it the end. We should ask the Lord, “What have I learned? What do I do now with this experience?”
Ministry! Sharing our hearts with others who are experiencing pain and loss. I remember thinking, in the midst of hard trials, Lord, I believe You want me to help others through a similar journey, just as my mentor shared her journey with me. Help me be to others what she was in my story.
Giving this kind of meaning to our pain changes things. It doesn’t remove our pain, but it gives us a way to steward it for His purposes. We can help the hopeless find hope in the middle of their struggles.
In her book Why?, Anne Graham Lotz wrote, “He who suffers most has the most to give.” We gradually grow spiritually deeper through life’s experiences. If we don’t tell our stories of survival, others may assume we’ve always known Jesus the way we do now. We must show them how we got here—and how we are still growing.
We can show others how “grief can be endured because it holds hope’s hand” (Kristi McLelland, Luke in the Land).
Where are you in your lament journey? Have you lamented—cried out to the Lord honestly? Have you searched Scripture—studied this theme throughout the Bible? Have you prayed lament Scriptures, trusting the Lord’s goodness? Have you experienced peace? If not, keep praying. Have you helped someone else in their lament? Pray that the Lord directs you to someone who needs to understand peace as they trust Christ in every situation.
Chris Adams
