To Cry is Human; To Lament is Christian
“Behold, I go forward, but he is not there, and backward, but I do not perceive him; on the left hand when he is working, I do not behold him; he turns to the right hand, but I do not see him. But he knows the way that I take; when he has tried me, I shall come out as gold.” Job 23:8-10
Job’s words resonate with anyone who has ever felt lost in the darkness of suffering. He looked for God in every direction—forward, backward, left, and right—but couldn’t find Him. Yet, in the midst of his pain, Job clung to a profound truth: “He knows the way that I take.” Even when God seemed hidden, Job trusted that God wasn’t absent. He believed that God was refining him through the fire, and that he would emerge as gold.
Job’s story is raw and real. He spoke from a place of deep pain—wishing he had never been born (Job 3:1-3) and questioning why he had to endure such agony (Job 7:20). His friends, instead of offering compassion, beat him down with accusations, insisting his suffering was his fault. But Job needed empathy, not judgment. However, what set him apart was that he never stopped talking to God. Like the psalmists, he brought his laments—his cries, his confusion, his despair—straight to the Lord.
Mark Vroegop in his book Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy captures the power of this practice: “To cry is human, but to lament is Christian.”
Lament isn’t just venting; it’s a prayer in pain that leads to trust. Vroegop also writes, “Lament is the honest cry of a hurting heart wrestling with the paradox of pain and the promise of God’s goodness.” Job embodied this. He didn’t understand why he suffered, and he said things that weren’t always right. Nevertheless he kept the conversation with God alive. Vroegop adds, “Prayerful lament is better than silence… Silent despair is the ultimate manifestation of unbelief.” Job refused to give God the silent treatment, and that made all the difference.
When God finally answered Job, He didn’t explain why. Instead, He revealed who—He showed him His majesty, His power, and His glory (Job 38-41). And that was enough. In awe of God, Job said, “I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you” (Job 42:5). Job shut his mouth, not in defeat, but in trust, knowing God was bigger than his questions.
Something else that jumped out at me was that at the end, God rebuked Job’s friends and asked Job to pray for them (Job 42:8). Why Job? Didn’t he complain a lot? Because, despite his complaints, he never turned away from God. Job’s faith took a beating but it held fast. It wasn’t pretty but he weathered the storm of suffering not because he had all the answers, but because he kept seeking the One who did.
We see this pattern elsewhere in Scripture. While John the Baptist was in prison cell and facing death, he sent a message to Jesus that indicated he had doubts: “Are you the one?” (Matthew 11:3). Jesus didn’t rebuke him but instead pointed to His works, and that was enough for John to trust again. Likewise Paul, tormented by a “thorn in the flesh,” cried out for deliverance (2 Corinthians 12:7-8). God didn’t remove it, but said, “My grace is sufficient for you” (v. 9). And Paul went on to discover that God’s grace was enough to endure; to keep on keeping on.
From these scriptures and my own intense struggles I learned vital lessons that I pray will encourage you: Providence hides in hardship—look for God’s blessings there. Trust that He’s working in ways you might not be able to see. Look for how He wants to use you, not just when the trial is over, but through it. Often, the greatest miracles are not just the deliverance from trials, but the ones God works in and through us during them. Job’s trial showed him that God is all he needed when God was all he had. He learned to worship God for who He is, not just for what He gives.
As I've heard it said, “You’ll never know God is all you need until God is all you have.” That’s what Job discovered. And that’s what we’re called to do—keep talking to Him, even when it’s a lament, even when it’s a cry of “I can’t take this anymore.” Bring it all to the Lord. He won’t turn us away. Jesus made a way for us on the cross, and His resurrection proves He can make a way through anything. It proves He knows our path and will bring us forth as gold.
Today, you made need healing—physical, emotional, or spiritual—cry out to God. But as you pray, trust also that God is working in ways we can’t yet see. He knows the way you take, and He’s refining you through this. Seek His healing hand, but also His hidden blessings in the midst of your trial. Draw near to Him, lament if you must, and He will draw near to you with the grace you need to endure.
-Pastor Marco
Job’s words resonate with anyone who has ever felt lost in the darkness of suffering. He looked for God in every direction—forward, backward, left, and right—but couldn’t find Him. Yet, in the midst of his pain, Job clung to a profound truth: “He knows the way that I take.” Even when God seemed hidden, Job trusted that God wasn’t absent. He believed that God was refining him through the fire, and that he would emerge as gold.
Job’s story is raw and real. He spoke from a place of deep pain—wishing he had never been born (Job 3:1-3) and questioning why he had to endure such agony (Job 7:20). His friends, instead of offering compassion, beat him down with accusations, insisting his suffering was his fault. But Job needed empathy, not judgment. However, what set him apart was that he never stopped talking to God. Like the psalmists, he brought his laments—his cries, his confusion, his despair—straight to the Lord.
Mark Vroegop in his book Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy captures the power of this practice: “To cry is human, but to lament is Christian.”
Lament isn’t just venting; it’s a prayer in pain that leads to trust. Vroegop also writes, “Lament is the honest cry of a hurting heart wrestling with the paradox of pain and the promise of God’s goodness.” Job embodied this. He didn’t understand why he suffered, and he said things that weren’t always right. Nevertheless he kept the conversation with God alive. Vroegop adds, “Prayerful lament is better than silence… Silent despair is the ultimate manifestation of unbelief.” Job refused to give God the silent treatment, and that made all the difference.
When God finally answered Job, He didn’t explain why. Instead, He revealed who—He showed him His majesty, His power, and His glory (Job 38-41). And that was enough. In awe of God, Job said, “I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you” (Job 42:5). Job shut his mouth, not in defeat, but in trust, knowing God was bigger than his questions.
Something else that jumped out at me was that at the end, God rebuked Job’s friends and asked Job to pray for them (Job 42:8). Why Job? Didn’t he complain a lot? Because, despite his complaints, he never turned away from God. Job’s faith took a beating but it held fast. It wasn’t pretty but he weathered the storm of suffering not because he had all the answers, but because he kept seeking the One who did.
We see this pattern elsewhere in Scripture. While John the Baptist was in prison cell and facing death, he sent a message to Jesus that indicated he had doubts: “Are you the one?” (Matthew 11:3). Jesus didn’t rebuke him but instead pointed to His works, and that was enough for John to trust again. Likewise Paul, tormented by a “thorn in the flesh,” cried out for deliverance (2 Corinthians 12:7-8). God didn’t remove it, but said, “My grace is sufficient for you” (v. 9). And Paul went on to discover that God’s grace was enough to endure; to keep on keeping on.
From these scriptures and my own intense struggles I learned vital lessons that I pray will encourage you: Providence hides in hardship—look for God’s blessings there. Trust that He’s working in ways you might not be able to see. Look for how He wants to use you, not just when the trial is over, but through it. Often, the greatest miracles are not just the deliverance from trials, but the ones God works in and through us during them. Job’s trial showed him that God is all he needed when God was all he had. He learned to worship God for who He is, not just for what He gives.
As I've heard it said, “You’ll never know God is all you need until God is all you have.” That’s what Job discovered. And that’s what we’re called to do—keep talking to Him, even when it’s a lament, even when it’s a cry of “I can’t take this anymore.” Bring it all to the Lord. He won’t turn us away. Jesus made a way for us on the cross, and His resurrection proves He can make a way through anything. It proves He knows our path and will bring us forth as gold.
Today, you made need healing—physical, emotional, or spiritual—cry out to God. But as you pray, trust also that God is working in ways we can’t yet see. He knows the way you take, and He’s refining you through this. Seek His healing hand, but also His hidden blessings in the midst of your trial. Draw near to Him, lament if you must, and He will draw near to you with the grace you need to endure.
-Pastor Marco