Lament: Psychological Perspectives on an Ancient Form of Prayer
Lament is a biblical and spiritual discipline that directs emotions toward a specific person, namely God. Within her presentation, Dr. Hall explored the structure of lament, its movements and mechanisms, and research examining lament in tandem with psychological treatment. You can access the presentation recording and her materials here. One of the most profound insights she offered was the idea that lament is fundamentally relational, especially between Christians and their Savior.
A significant example of lament in the Bible is found in the book of Job. This narrative offers a vivid example of lament, holding reverence for God alongside honest anguish and unanswered questions. It provides a glimpse of the five movements that Dr. Hall presented to the group.
The Five Movements of Lament and How They Model a Relationship with Christ
Hall outlined the five movements of lament as call, complain, request, remember, and praise. During lament, individuals will first call out to the Lord and then voice their suffering. They request deliverance and begin to remember who God is and what he has done. This remembrance often leads to praise.
This pattern is unique to one’s relationship with Christ. When one finds themselves in such deep despair, there is no one else capable of instilling such hope and comfort as Christ. The Lord allows intense thoughts, emotions, and physical pain to exist, but in that, He shifts the outlook to one of hope. Based upon her research, Hall suggests the internal shift to be a cognitive change that occurs through the practice of lament.
Cognitive Change and Healing
Dr. Hall and her colleagues researched how lament shapes coping and cognitive processing. Their findings suggest that praying through laments and practicing the mechanisms of lament can help individuals manage chronic pain, deepen their intimacy with the Lord, foster hope and peace during trials, and facilitate “meaning-making” in the midst of suffering.
Dr. Hall stated:
“We find in a lament a guide for the journey, a roadmap that allows people to change and grow through suffering. In a world that avoids suffering, let us adjust to imagining one that addresses suffering by going through it rather than around it.”
Suffering is unavoidable. It will occur, and when it does, it shapes the relationship between man and God. Lament is an important way to process the suffering; it provides a reason for the pain and cultivates comfort and safety in the Savior.
Conclusion
Lament may be one of the most tender and vulnerable relational aspects of a life with Christ. Practicing lament can mark the difference between healthy and unhealthy coping, between isolation and connection, and between despair and healing. Make sure to watch the rest of Dr. Hall’s presentation at the link above.
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