Permission to Weep

Having explained how laments allow us to frankly pour out our sorrow, anxiety, perplexity and quandaries to our Transcendent Cosmic God and Ever-Present Covenant LORD, Mark Futato, in "Interpreting the Psalms", 158, concludes:

Most of us have experienced trouble - to one degree or another, for long or shorter periods of time. The journey of life may at times take us over some very difficult terrain. Adversity replaces prosperity. Turmoil swallows up tranquility. Chaos obliterates order. Doubt replaces faith. God has given us the laments for times such as these.

Those in deep darkness, dread, despondency or despair may want to take out a Psalter to read, sing or pray through cries like 3-7, 10, 13, 16-17, 26, 30-31, 38, 41-44, 56 or 88.

As you do, fix your soul on Man of Sorrows Jesus - as your sympathetic Savior, He wept Psalm 22, enduring darkest pits that our pain might turn to praise.