How to Pray Heartfelt Laments with Hope
The psalms of lament teach us how to pray with hope when we’re grieving, hurting, attacked, or afraid. Laments are prayer requests asking for deliverance from trouble. They describe things that have gone wrong and ask for them to be made right.
The book of psalms has more laments than any other type of psalm. It’s no wonder, since Jesus said, “In this world you will have tribulation” (John 16:33).
Laments typically have five parts. The order of the middle three parts varies, and parts often repeat in longer psalms. Still, the pattern persists and including each part in your prayers will help you pray with hope
So let’s examine the five parts in a short lament: Psalm 5. It’s a great example of how to pray laments in our own difficult times.
Psalm 5’s Background
David wrote Psalm 5 during a time when he was being attacked by wicked evildoers who spread lies about him.
The inscription reads, “To the choirmaster.” David created the temple choirs after he was crowned king, so he submitted the psalm while he was king. We don’t know whether he wrote the psalm before or during the monarchy. Either way, he gave it to the choirmaster so others could use it when praying over their own hardships.
Here are the five parts.
1) Address God with an Introductory Cry (vv. 1-6)
Laments usually begin by addressing God and crying out to him for help. Here’s Psalm 5:1-3:
Give ear to my words, O Lord;
consider my groaning.
Give attention to the sound of my cry,
my King and my God,
for to you do I pray.
O Lord, in the morning you hear my voice;
in the morning I prepare a sacrifice for you
and watch.
Psalm 5:1–3
David addresses God as “Lord,” “my King,” and “my God.” These titles reflect God’s sovereignty and righteous rule. They also show David’s submission to him. He cries out for God to hear his prayer.
How to Begin Your Lament
Begin your lament by addressing God with titles that fit your situation. Use the titles David uses or try Father, Holy One, or Judge of all the earth. Ask him to hear and help you.
Optional: Give Reasons Why God Should Act (vv. 4-6)
Many laments describe God’s attributes as reasons why God should act. In this psalm, the reasons are part of the introductory cry. In other psalms, they’re attached elsewhere.
David isn’t trying to talk God into answering him. Rather, he’s reminding himself of why God would want to answer. That builds hope.
In Psalm 5:4-6, David lists God’s attributes and why they assure him God will want to act.
For you are not a God who delights in
wickedness;
evil may not dwell with you.
The boastful shall not stand before your
eyes;
you hate all evildoers.
You destroy those who speak lies;
the Lord abhors the bloodthirsty and
deceitful man.
Psalm 5:4–6
Here, “hate” and “abhors” mean the Lord rejects evildoers. They’ll face judgment. “Bloodthirsty” means they’re either murderers or they’re falsely accusing David of something that deserves death. They “speak lies” and are “deceitful,” so they libel David. For example, Saul falsely accused David of treason when he sent his army to murder him.
Your Turn
Think of which attributes of God apply to your situation. Then pray about how you expect God will want to act based on those attributes. Notice how this increases hope that God will act on your prayer.
2) Confess Your Trust in God (vv. 7-8)
Praying over God’s attributes leads naturally to confessing trust. David’s confession of trust is in Psalm 5:7-8:
But I, through the abundance of your . steadfast love, will enter your house. I will bow down toward your holy temple in the fear of you. Lead me, O Lord, in your righteousness because of my enemies; make your way straight before me. Psalm 5:7–8
(The Jerusalem temple had not been built in David’s day. “House” refers to the tabernacle, as in 2 Samuel 12:20. “Temple” refers to the building that was part of the sanctuary at Shilo, as in 1 Samuel 1:9; 3:3.)
David puts his trust in the Lord and asks him to lead him so that his foes have no more fodder for accusations. He says he’ll express his trust in public worship. Like David, we need God’s guidance when dealing with dishonest enemies.
Your Turn
Confess your trust in God. Explain how you’ll express that trust. Ask for wisdom and direction.
3) Lament (v. 9)
The lament proper in Psalm 5 is found in verse 9. It’s the complaint against adversaries and the harm they’re causing.
For there is no truth in their mouth;
their inmost self is destruction;
their throat is an open grave;
they flatter with their tongue.
Psalm 5:9
The enemies’ talk harms and could bring David’s demise. They flatter others to get them to side with them rather than David.
Your Turn
Honestly pour out what’s bothering you. Dig deeply to uncover what’s stirring your emotions. How could you or a loved one be harmed? What saddens, hurts, or angers you? Why? What wrongs have you endured? Lay everything out in prayer.
4) Petition God for What You Want (vv. 10-11)
David next asks God to bring justice for his attackers and protection for their victims.
Make them bear their guilt, O God;
let them fall by their own counsels;
because of the abundance of their transgressions
cast them out,
for they have rebelled against you.
But let all who take refuge in you rejoice;
let them ever sing for joy,
and spread your protection over them,
that those who love your name may exult in you.
Psalm 5:10–11
Note that when evildoers sang these words with the choir, they condemned themselves. If they had ears to listen, conviction would lead them to repent.
Jesus said, “But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,” (Matthew 5:44). Therefore, our prayers should be that others recognize their sin and repent. Then justice will come through Jesus’s blood. If they don’t repent, they will “bear their guilt” at the final judgment.
We also need to forgive sins against us without excusing them.
On the other hand, victims singing these words would take comfort in knowing God ultimately brings justice and protection.
Your Turn
What is it you’d like God to do in your situation? Boldly request what you want. Pray for others to recognize their guilt and repent. Pray for the Lord’s protection over victims and for them to rejoice over deliverance.
5) Give Thanks or Praise (v. 12)
Most laments end in one of three ways: a vow to give future thanks, present thanksgiving, or praise. The vow is a promise that if God answers the prayer as the psalmist wants, the psalmist will take a thanksgiving offering to the sanctuary to publicly announce what God did.
If the psalm ends in thanksgiving but no vow, it means one of two things. The thanksgiving may be what the psalmist intends to say if God answers positively. Or after God answered the prayer, the psalmist added the ending of thanksgiving. Either way, it would accompany a thanksgiving sacrifice.
Psalm 5 ends in a third way: praise.
For you bless the righteous, O Lord;
you cover him with favor as with a shield.
Psalm 5:12
The “righteous” are those whose faith in and love for God causes them to order their lives according to God’s laws (Psalm 1:2; 1 John 3:7); God bestows righteousness on them because he counts faith as righteousness (Genesis 15:6; Philippians 3:9).
David rejoices that God blesses and protects the righteous. His confident hope in the Lord soars and he finishes with praise for God’s protective ways.
Obviously, David survived the attack. He gave his lament to the choirmaster, making his praise public.
Your Turn
End your prayer by giving thanks for the good God will work in your situation. Praise him for the good he does.
And when God answers your prayer: tell others about it!
Conclusion
Praying honest laments from the heart using these five parts will build your hope in God. Give it a try over whatever situation tugs at your heart now.
How to Pray Laments from the Heart with Hope: Psalm 5 Share on XBooks You Might Like
*Some links are Amazon affiliate links for which I receive a small commission at no cost to you.
- Discovering Hope in the Psalms* by Jean E. Jones, Pam Farrel, and Karla Dornacher
- A Sacred Sorrow* by Michael Card
- Rejoicing in Lament* by J. Todd Billings
- A Commentary on the Psalms,* 3 Volumes by Allen P. Ross
- Honest Prayers for Mama Bears by Hillary Morgan Ferrer and Julie Loos
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