The Gift of Lament

By Amanda Hughley

Life can be difficult and painful. It is nearly impossible to avoid the suffering that comes in the form of illness, death, civil unrest, strained relationships, or broken hearts. As believers, these times of hardship and pain can cause us to cut God off instead of approaching Him in desperation. Often, our prayers become silent and our hope grows dim.

This disengagement does not need to happen. During these hard times, we are provided an opportunity to deepen our relationship with God. Through lament, or crying out to God, we can establish new and profound elements of our prayer, worship, hope, and faith.

The Gift of Lament lays out the biblical groundwork for lamenting to God amid suffering and pain. Using Scripture, this concise e-book promotes the use of lament as a powerful and necessary form of communication. Additionally, this book provides tangible tools for utilizing lament in your personal relationship with God.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Amanda Hughley
• Release date: Nov 28, 2020
• ISBN: 9781005484101

Book preview

The Gift of Lament

Amanda Hughley

Copyright © 2020 by Amanda Hughley

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or used in any manner without written permission of the copyright owner except for the use of quotations in a book review. For more information, address: [e-mail].

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This book remains the copyrighted property of the author, and may not be redistributed to others for commercial or non-commercial purposes. If you enjoyed this book, please encourage your friends to download their own copy. Thank you for your support.

Cover design by Amanda Hughley

Editing by PurpleInked

www.amandahughley.com

To my husband, Jonathan, who has

both lamented and rejoiced by my side

through growth and stagnation, in sorrow and in joy.

To my grandfather, who exuded God’s patience,

grace, and mercy in every aspect of his life.

There is no greater legacy of man

than the legacy of your faith and love.

Acknowledgements

Getting to this place in my faith journey has been difficult, yet so edifying. To write a book on lament requires, of course, difficult times of grief, sadness, and suffering. However, if I were given the opportunity to skip over the pain, I would not. Those times have not only strengthened my relationship with God but also with the people He has placed in my life each step of the way to encourage, teach, and pray for me.

Thank you, Mom and Dad, for your continual support and unconditional love. Mom, thank you for crying with me, praying for me, and sharing your wisdom as only a mother could. To my brothers and sisters, each one of you are incredibly unique and strong, Thank you for celebrating my uniqueness and always being selflessly available to listen. To my father-in-law, thank you not only for bringing up my husband to be an amazing man of God but for your boundless care, encouragement, and wisdom.

To my grandmother, there are not nearly enough words to say exactly who you are to me. My faith and all the work that comes from it are a testament of the love, direction, and prayers you and Grandpa so faithfully provided. There has been no better example of God’s love than that of yours for your family, grandpa, the church, others, and, most importantly, God. Thank you.

To my pastor, Pastor John F. Hannah, and his wife, Mrs. Hannah, not only have you taught me about prayer, faith, and life; you have provided my family and me with living examples of how to pursue God unceasingly. Your care and love have comforted and carried Jonathan and me through the hardest times in our lives. There is no way to repay what you have selflessly poured into me, my family, and countless others. I honor you both, your callings, and your faith walk.

Thank you to the many pastors and ministers throughout my life who have provided me with priceless wisdom and guidance. Thank you especially to Minister Tonette, Minister Terrell, and Charlom for seeing in me what I couldn’t and encouraging me to my fullest potential. Thank you, Pastor Alex, for your commitment to leading all people to Christ. Your knowledge of and hunger for the Word inspire me. I am so grateful for your guidance.

Thank you to my prayer sister Joyce, who has prayed with me every week for years through my worst and best. No relationship compares to one that is built on earnest prayer. Thank you for your dedication, encouragement, free counseling sessions, and honesty. Thank you for praying this book back to life.

To my sisters in faith who are my consistent encouragers and helpmeets, God continues to amaze me through your testimonies, servanthood, and perseverance. Thank you for your prayers. To friends and family who have cried, prayed, and rejoiced for my family and me, thank you.

Jonathan, your encouragement and support are essential to me. Thank you for ensuring I have what I need to answer the call of God. For every tear wiped, every direction given, every doubt dismantled, I am forever grateful. Without you, there is no book. I love you.

Table of Contents

Foreword

Introduction

The Case for Lament

What Lament is

What Lament Does

Lament in the Bible

The Lament of Kings

The Lament of Prophets

The Lament of The Sick, Afflicted, & Oppressed

The Lament of Jesus

How We Lament

Where to find Lament in the Bible

Notes

Foreword

I am and always have been