“There’s a lot of talk about how to lament these days, but what do we do after—what comes next?”
My friend’s question was intriguing. He put words to something many believers feel but rarely name. Because all of life is lived before God, the moments following lament are just as important as the pain-pressed prayers themselves. We still must respond—so what will it be? Some may withdraw in resignation; others might simmer in anger or grow restless with worry. We need God’s wisdom for these moments, lest the choices we make in our grief do more harm than good.
Lament is a faithful response to suffering, but it is not the end of the believer’s fellowship with Christ. After we’ve poured out our hearts to God in prayer, how then do we walk forward “in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him” (Col. 1:10)? Even when our burdens are not immediately lifted, we can still pursue what honors Christ in our bodies and with our time (1 Cor. 6:19-20; 2 Cor. 5:9). In His Word, God gives practical guidance for our next steps: wait patiently, work faithfully, and watch expectantly as we entrust ourselves to His care.
My friend’s question was intriguing. He put words to something many believers feel but rarely name. Because all of life is lived before God, the moments following lament are just as important as the pain-pressed prayers themselves. We still must respond—so what will it be? Some may withdraw in resignation; others might simmer in anger or grow restless with worry. We need God’s wisdom for these moments, lest the choices we make in our grief do more harm than good.
Lament is a faithful response to suffering, but it is not the end of the believer’s fellowship with Christ. After we’ve poured out our hearts to God in prayer, how then do we walk forward “in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him” (Col. 1:10)? Even when our burdens are not immediately lifted, we can still pursue what honors Christ in our bodies and with our time (1 Cor. 6:19-20; 2 Cor. 5:9). In His Word, God gives practical guidance for our next steps: wait patiently, work faithfully, and watch expectantly as we entrust ourselves to His care.
