In the past year, the world has witnessed devastating floods besiege central Texas and western North Carolina. As onlookers, we may find ourselves overwhelmed with a range of emotions—grief, confusion, perhaps even anger. These feelings are natural, but expressing them can be difficult, especially in our faith journey. How do we reconcile our pain with our trust in God?
This is where the beautiful, often forgotten practice of lament plays a vital role. Lament is honest prayer in painful times. It’s the heart’s raw dialogue with God when life doesn’t make sense.
In his book, “Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy,” Mark Vroegop reminds us that lament is not a sign of weak faith—it’s a powerful expression of trust. He describes how biblical lament often follows a distinct pattern.
The 4 Parts of Biblical Lament
(1) Address God directly
(2) Honestly express your pain or confusion
(3) Make bold, yet humble, requests based on God’s character and promises
(4) Reaffirm trust in God’s sovereign care
Laments can be brief, like David’s heartfelt cry in Psalm 13 (just six verses long), or they can span multiple chapters as in the Book of Lamentations. The length matters less than the sincerity behind the prayer.
What makes laments so powerful is they allow us to pour out our genuine feelings while simultaneously reaching for God’s hand. It’s not complaining about God but complaining to God—a profound difference that strengthens our relationship with him.
As we witness devastation from natural disasters—homes destroyed, lives lost, communities forever changed—we need this sacred language of sorrow. Lament gives us words when words seem inadequate.
I offer this prayer for our brothers and sisters:
A Lament for Central Texas and Western North Carolina
Heavenly Father, you are the Sovereign Lord over all creation, the One who crafts the seasons and commands the sun to rise each morning. For in you “all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible” (Colossians 1:16).
We stand in reverent wonder that the same God who sustains the universe by the word of his power also knows each of us by name.
Yet, we are fallen people who live in a broken world. We have turned our backs on you, and the world suffers and groans in response. Violent weather and natural disasters remind us of our fragility. Catastrophic floods assault our minds and grieve our spirits.
Lord, we mourn the loss of precious lives swept away by the relentless floodwaters. In the aftermath of this devastating wound, your creation weeps. We struggle to process the breadth and depth of the damage. Our hearts ache as we grieve with families torn apart, even as they slept.
You, Lord, truly know the depths of suffering and can empathize with our pain. We plead for your Kingdom presence to pour into central Texas and western North Carolina with power and impact far exceeding the flood’s destruction.
May your Holy Spirit bring supernatural comfort to grief-stricken hearts. We cling to your promise that you are “close to the brokenhearted and save those who are crushed in spirit” (Psalm 34:18). Bind up their wounds (Psalm 147:3) and redeem their losses through your unfailing power and love (Psalm 71:19-21).
Guide us, Father, to be your hands and feet to those suffering. Anoint us with wisdom and compassion as we share our resources and skills to help carry their burdens. Show us how to bring practical comfort while pointing to eternal hope.
In our darkest moments, we find reassurance in your promise that “neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38-39).
You are our Living Hope.
How You Can Help
In the coming days, our collective efforts in prayer, donations, and support are invaluable to those affected by the flooding in Texas and North Carolina. Here are two reputable organizations actively providing relief in both areas:
- Samaritan’s Purse: Known for their dedicated disaster relief efforts, Samaritan’s Purse responds swiftly to emergencies, offering practical aid and spiritual support to those in need.
- Mercy Chefs: Specializing in providing hot meals during crises, Mercy Chefs delivers nourishment and comfort to communities impacted by natural disasters.
Your contributions and prayers can make a significant impact as these communities work toward recovery.
Let’s stand together in lament and hope.
About the Author
Cheryl Liberatore is the author of the Amazon best-seller, Healing or Homecoming: Finding God When Life Is in the Balance. Through gripping personal narrative, she shares her husband’s and daughter’s battles with terminal cancer—one leading to miraculous healing and the other to eternal homecoming. Cheryl confronts the mystery of when God heals and when he does not, guiding readers along the challenging yet beautiful journey of faith that thrives even when the outcome is uncertain. Today, Cheryl writes from her home, where she also cares for her severely disabled brother. Her experiences of God’s faithfulness amidst life’s difficult seasons gave birth to the God in the Mess outreach.
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