For many people, myself included, change is difficult. For some, change can be downright excruciating, even when it’s part of God’s plan for our lives. Change means navigating an unfamiliar road filled bumps, humps, twists, and turns, Change causes us to grieve the loss that of that to which we have become accustomed.

Our church Youth Group is going through a period of change right now, a transition to new leadership. Understandably, many of our students, as well as leaders, are grieving this loss of the familiar and comfortable. We miss our previous leader, whom God has called to further His Purpose for youth ministry in another state.

Our Interim leader, a former student under the previous leader, is doing the (sometimes) impossible job of replacing someone who many of our students grew up with, including herself. She is navigating this road of uncertainty, while grieving the loss of her former leader as well. Talk about an impossible task!

This transition period has been difficult for many of our teens. Our students, many of whom are graduating, have the added pressure of school work, part time jobs, family issues, and friends. Additionally, our graduating seniors are facing new, uncertain futures as adults. To all of my students: WE SEE YOU, WE LOVE YOU, AND WE UNDERSTAND!

It’s important to emphasize that our leadership team is also struggling with change, added responsibility, and grief. Our Interim Youth Leader not only has responsibilities to the teens and co-leaders, she is held accountable by church leadership and bound by church doctrine. Additionally, she’s working her “day job,” where she has responsibilities completely separate from church. To our wonderful Interim Leader: THANK YOU! YOU ARE APPRECIATED! WE LOVE YOU!

Recently, the Holy Spirit has impressed upon me the subject of Lamenting. You may be asking yourself, la…HUH?? What does it mean to lament?

According to The Cambridge Dictionary, the definition of “lament” is to “express sadness and feeling sorry about something.” Merriam Webster defines it as “to mourn aloud: wail” and “to express sorrow, mourning, or regret for often demonstratively.”

Bibledictionarytoday.com defines the practice of lamenting as “not merely an expression of grief; it is a symbolic act that acknowledges our human vulnerability and the reality of suffering. In the Bible, lament often serves as a heartfelt cry or a plea for justice, reminding us that it is okay to express our pain and confusion before God.”

In my humble opinion, I believe that God wants me to encourage this practice of lamenting among my students and fellow leaders during this time of transition. Maybe through this blog, He is encouraging you to lament.

It’s important to stress that this practice of “lamenting” is not a license to simply complain about our misery and blame all our problems on God and others. We must use this practice as God intended; a heartfelt and raw expression of our sorrow poured out in prayer to Him. The following examples express how we can lament properly. (The verses are from the NASB, 1995. unless notated otherwise.)

“I cry out to You for help, but You do not answer me; I stand up, and You turn Your attention against me. You have become cruel to me; with the might of Your hand You persecute me” Job 30:20-21

“My voice rises to God, and I will cry aloud; my voice rises to God, and He will hear me. In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord; in the night my hand was stretched out without weariness; my soul refused to be comforted.” Psalm 77:1-2

“The Lord is righteous; for I have rebelled against His command; hear now, all peoples, and behold my pain; my virgins and my young men have gone into captivity” Lamentations 1:18

“For thus says the Lord, ‘When seventy years have been completed for Babylon, I will visit you and fulfill My good word to you, to bring you back to this place. For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.’” Jeremiah 29:10-13

“I am weary in my sighing; every night I make my bed swim, I dissolve my couch with my tears. My eye has wasted away with grief; it has become old because of all my adversaries.” Psalm 6:6-7

“My tears have been my food day and night, while they say to me all day long, ‘where is your God?’ These things I remember and I pour out my soul within me.” Psalm 42:3-4

When we use this practice of lamenting as God intended, He rewards us with encouragement and hope.

“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.” Matthew 5:4

“And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28

“For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for a lifetime; weeping may last for the night, but a shout of joy comes in the morning.” Psalm 30:5

“Those who sow in tears shall reap with joyful shouting.” Psalm 126: 5

“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.” Lamentations 3:22-23 NIV

“and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.” Revelation 21:4

God wants nothing more than to hear from us! He already knows what we’re going through, so nothing comes as a shock or surprise. So go ahead…Lament! Cry out to God in your anguish. He will listen, and He will comfort you as only He can.

Dear Heavenly Father, I humbly lift up our Youth Group students and leadership team to You. Please help us during this transition process to bring our concerns to You. Please give us discernment so that we can make choices that are pleasing only to You. Guide us to understand that each of us is grieving in our own way. I lift up everyone reading this. Thank You for allowing us the freedom to vent our concerns and frustrations to You. Thank You for the hope You have provided in Your Precious Son, Jesus! It is in His name that we pray, Amen.