Enjoy listening to the song, Tears of Lament, that accompanies this post by clicking the "Play" or "Listen" button above.
How do you deal with tears of grief or sorrow?
I looked up lament in the dictionary and found three primary definitions:
- a passionate expression of grief or sorrow
- a song, piece of music, or poem expressing sorrow
- an expression of regret or disappointment; a complaint
Tears of Lament is a piece of music using a piano-cello duet to express sorrow, with glimpses of hope. After listening while reading the words below, take time to close your eyes and just listen to the music…
It seems like I have had more tears of joy, as well as more tears of sorrow, the more I seek to draw near to God and live by faith. The emotions expressed in the Psalms are pure and real. My tears of joy flow from a deepening sense of gratitude for God’s grace, forgiveness, and blessings. These are awesome. My tears of grief or sorrow — tears of lament — have extended beyond my personal circumstances to stream when I learn of the suffering of others where there is no justice or explanation for their pain.
Here are the liner notes for Tears of Lament from the album The Voice in 2005:
For some time I have anticipated musically exploring the times of sadness and mourning that life brings . . . these moments are often hard to understand. I always think about how much greater the suffering and pain is for so many people in the world versus my own. As I looked back on these experiences in my life this music met me in those places, and played a small part in the healing process of finding hope for the future. “Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy . . . my eyes overflow with tears. Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. For you, O Lord, have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling.” (Psalm 126:5; Lamentations 1:16, 3:22-23; Psalm 116:8)
Now, as you listen, close your eyes. If tears of joy or sorrow flow, let them be cleansing, hoping in the Lord’s great love and compassion. If you don’t have tears right now…
Who can you pray for who does have tears? How can you love them toward hope?
