Biblical Lament: A FREE Family Devotion & Scripture Printable Pack

When you hear the word “lament,” what do you imagine? Sackcloth and ashes, perhaps? Or weeping and wailing? For most people, the idea of lament seems depressing. It may even seem like something we shouldn’t focus too much on as Christians since we are called to be joyful in the Lord no matter our circumstances.

However, ignoring the very real and difficult thoughts and feelings we sometimes wrestle with this side of heaven in order to focus on the positive is NOT actually a biblical approach. We live in a world that is broken and lost and witness evil wreak havoc on humanity. We struggle with sin in us and in others. We suffer pain, loss, rejection, sadness, fear, and anxiousness. How do we handle these very real and difficult times in a godly way? And how do we teach our children to do the same?

*** Don’t miss the FREE 81-page family devotion and Scripture printable pack in this post! ***

Biblical lament - A family Bible study and Scripture printable pack helping parents and their children pray through hard times.

One way to do that is by studying and practicing biblical lament. Laments are prayers — honest conversations with God about our sorrows, confusion, and frustrations. But they’re more than just complaints! Laments express and confirm our trust in God’s love and faithfulness despite our circumstances.

Why Biblical Lament?

The Bible is full of examples of lament. For example, almost one-third of the chapters in the book of Psalms are devoted to this form of prayer. They teach us that bringing our raw emotions to God is acceptable and even necessary. Lament brings authentic joy from the ashes. It guides us through life’s difficulties to a place of trust and rest in the Lord.

In the book Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy by Mark Vroegop, the author describes lament as the bridge between despair and trust in God. He shares that lament in Scripture has four key steps:

Turn to God. Even in pain, lament draws us toward Him.
Bring your complaint. Biblical lament doesn’t shy away from expressing raw emotions.
Ask boldly for help. God invites us to cry out for His intervention.
Choose to trust. Lament leads us back to faith in God’s goodness.

This biblical framework for bringing our struggles to the Lord in prayer is incredibly impactful. And it applies to many areas of life, whether you are grieving a personal loss, struggling with seemingly unanswered prayers, or mourning the brokenness of the world.

In Psalm 13, David begins by crying out, “How long, O Lord? Will You forget me forever?” He pours out his heart to the Lord and asks for His help. But by the end of the prayer, he re-confirms his faith and confidence in God. “But I have trusted in Your steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in Your salvation.” This pattern teaches us how to process our struggles in a way that honors God and keeps our eyes focused on HIM.

Learning and practicing biblical lament can be transformative. Children face fears, uncertainties, and disappointments just like adults do! Teaching them to take these issues to God in prayer gives them a lifelong tool that will bless them immensely as they navigate the inevitable hardships and stressors. We parents also benefit from regularly turning our hearts to the Lord in honest prayer and can model a reliance on God that strengthens the entire household and builds faith in our own lives.

Exploring Biblical Lament With Your Family

I have learned so much about biblical lament in the past few years. The trials, losses, and uncertainties I experienced brought me to a place of utter dependence on God. (We’re always utterly dependent on God, but sometimes it takes a bit to get us to realize it and turn to Him fully.) As hard as these experiences were, I am so thankful for all that the Lord taught me, especially in the area of biblical lament. It has become a valuable pattern of prayer in my life and has deepened my intimacy with the Lord so much.

I wish I had learned it sooner, too, because the world is full of things we grieve—we want to see God’s kingdom come! Even if your family isn’t going through a particularly challenging time right now, you can learn to use biblical laments. We can bring issues such as the sanctity of life, broken relationships, sickness and death, and all the lost and weary world to the throne of God in prayer.

My goal for the coming year is to pass these prayer lessons and habits on to my children. Will your family join us on this journey? Lament is not about remaining in sorrow but bringing it to the One who promises to walk with us through every trial. It’s a way to teach your family that God cares deeply about their fears and questions and that His goodness and providence never waver. By practicing lament together, you will learn to rest in God’s sovereignty, trusting that He works all things for His glory and your good (Romans 8:28).

A year-long exploration of biblical laments can greatly enrich your family’s prayer life and build a stronger foundation of trust in God’s character. With that in mind, I have put together a 1-year Scripture printable pack and family devotion that I am offering for FREE for Proverbial Homemaker subscribers.

FREE Biblical Lament Family Devotions and Scripture Printable Pack

The printable pack will guide you in studying a different lament from the Psalms each month. We’ll discuss the emotions expressed, the truths about God that are revealed, and how to keep turning back to trust and hope in the Lord. Together, we’ll pray and meditate on God’s Word and practice writing our own laments using the Psalms as a guide.

I have designed this resource to be flexible, so feel free to use only what is useful to you. Here are the themes you’ll cover:

- - Psalm 13:5-6 – Trusting the Lord in Hard Times
  - Psalm 22:2-5 – Praising God in Hard Times
  - Psalm 31:14-16 – Resting in God’s Love
  - Psalm 42:1-2a, 11 – Seeking God’s Presence
  - Psalm 43:3-4 – Seeking Light and Truth
  - Psalm 56:3-4 – Practicing Faith Over Fear
  - Psalm 61:1-5 – Seeking Refuge in the Lord
  - Psalm 69:16-18a – Seeking Deliverance
  - Psalm 130:5, 7b – Waiting on the Lord
  - Psalm 55:22 – Casting Your Burdens on the Lord
  - Psalm 82:2-4, 8 – Seeking God’s Justice
  - Psalm 51:1-2, 10 – Seeking God’s Mercy

Your printable includes the following for each month’s main Psalm passage:

Family devotions: A Scripture reading with short devotional thoughts, discussion/journaling questions, and an optional family activity idea.
Scripture art print and coloring pages: Post the art print on the wall for memory work practice or frame it for decor or as a gift. Color the black and white pages while praying through the passage, or have your kids color as they listen to the devotion.
Memory verse cards: Use as memory work flash cards, laminate and put on a book ring, tape to a bathroom mirror, or laminate and mount on colorful card stock and mail to a friend as encouragement!
30-day Scripture calendars: Pray through the day’s verse about putting your trust in the Lord. Optionally, write the verse or portions of it. Includes a space for prayer requests you want to cover and a place to brainstorm ideas for intentionally blessing others during the month. I plan to use these myself and will have my older kids join me. 🙂

NOTE: This will deliver a ZIP file to your inbox that includes both the ESV and KJV versions of this resource. Please check your spam folder! If you run into issues, contact me at tauna(at)proverbialhomemaker(dot)com.