Cry Out to God

What does it mean to mourn? What does it mean to cry? What does it mean to lament?

We look at the examples in the scriptures and we see Jesus shedding tears of blood in the Garden of Gethsemane. We see Hezekiah plead for his life. We see David mourn the loss of his son and lament over his sins of adultery and murder and lust and greed.

These men truly cried out to God. Some other examples include Peter after his denial of Jesus, Jesus wept at the loss of Lazarus, and Israel as she is enslaved in Egypt or exiled in Babylon. We see Jeremiah cry for his people and Nehemiah cry as the walls of Jerusalem are torn down. We Jesus cries over Jerusalem as well.

But, my question to you is: When have you wept? Mourned? Or lamented?

Our culture seeks happiness. Our culture stays clear of pain. We numb ourselves if we have sorrows. Some drink their pains away. Some avoid openness, honesty, and confession about the hurt in their lives. I am guilty of culture corrupting me. I think we probably all are. I do not like pain and suffering. I do not know how to mourn. I have forgotten what God’s people were so good at for so long. They could be open and honest about their pain with God and with their community. They connected to God in a way I know so little about. I want to be able to connect with God in this way.


Often I feel that I do not value emotions and I try to correct my pain with my logic and intellect or lack there of. Too often I forget to connect with God through my feelings and this is my loss.