PSALMS OF LAMENT
During our life’s experience, we will encounter difficulties that can be overwhelming. Someone once described our lives as a series of tunnels: the sky is clear, and we are out of a tunnel, but approaching one; in a tunnel and not being able to see the end of the tunnel; approaching the end of the tunnel, we can see the light at the end of the tunnel; and back out of a tunnel, possibly headed for another one. The Lord has given us the Book of Psalms to comfort us, assure us, and lead us through those dark and painful moments in our life. If you are in one of those “tunnels,” read one or more of the Psalms listed below, make them your own lament, and pray them back to the Lord as an offering of praise, worship, and trust.
PSALM 6:1-10
O LORD, rebuke me not in Your anger,
nor discipline me in Your wrath.
Be gracious to me, O LORD, for I am languishing;
heal me, O LORD, for my bones are troubled.
My soul also is greatly troubled.
But You, O LORD—how long?
Turn, O LORD, deliver my life;
save me for the sake of Your steadfast love.
For in death there is no remembrance of You;
in Sheol who will give You praise?
I am weary with my moaning;
every night I flood my bed with tears;
I drench my couch with my weeping.
My eye wastes away because of grief;
it grows weak because of all my foes.
Depart from me, all you workers of evil,
for the LORD has heard the sound of my weeping.
The LORD has heard my plea;
the LORD accepts my prayer.
All my enemies shall be ashamed and greatly troubled;
they shall turn back and be put to shame in a moment.
PSALM 13:1-6
How long, O LORD? Will You forget me forever?
How long will You hide Your face from me?
How long must I take counsel in my soul
and have sorrow in my heart all the day?
How long shall my enemy be exalted over me?
Consider and answer me, O LORD my God;
light up my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death,
lest my enemy say, “I have prevailed over him,”
lest my foes rejoice because I am shaken.
But I have trusted in Your steadfast love;
my heart shall rejoice in Your salvation.
I will sing to the LORD,
because He has dealt bountifully with me.
PSALM 25:1-2, 16-21
To You, O LORD, I lift up my soul.
O my God, in You I trust;
let me not be put to shame;
let not my enemies exult over me.
Turn to me and be gracious to me,
for I am lonely and afflicted.
The troubles of my heart are enlarged;
bring me out of my distresses.
Consider my affliction and my trouble,
and forgive all my sins.
Consider how many are my foes,
and with what violent hatred they hate me.
Oh, guard my soul, and deliver me!
Let me not be put to shame, for I take refuge in You.
May integrity and uprightness preserve me,
for I wait for You.
PSALM 86:1-4, 14-17
Incline Your ear, O LORD, and answer me,
for I am poor and needy.
Preserve my life, for I am godly;
save Your servant, who trusts in You—You are my God.
Be gracious to me, O Lord,
for to You do I cry all the day.
Gladden the soul of your servant,
for to You, O Lord, do I lift up my soul.
O God, insolent men have risen up against me;
a band of ruthless men seeks my life,
and they do not set You before them.
But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious,
slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.
Turn to me and be gracious to me;
give Your strength to Your servant,
and save the son of Your maidservant.
Show me a sign of Your favor,
that those who hate me may see and be put to shame
because You, LORD, have helped me and comforted me.
PSALM 130:1-8
Out of the depths I cry to You, O LORD!
O Lord, hear my voice!
Let Your ears be attentive
to the voice of my pleas for mercy!
If You, O LORD, should mark iniquities,
O Lord, who could stand?
But with You there is forgiveness,
that You may be feared.
I wait for the LORD, my soul waits,
and in His word I hope;
my soul waits for the Lord
more than watchmen for the morning,
more than watchmen for the morning.
O [YOUR NAME], hope in the LORD!
For with the LORD there is steadfast love,
and with Him is plentiful redemption.
And He will redeem [ME]
from all [MY] iniquities.
ADDITIONAL PSALMS OF LAMENT
Psalm 3
Psalm 22
Psalm 28
Psalm 44
Psalm 56
Psalm 57
Psalm 71
Psalm 77
Psalm 142