Book Review: Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy

 

 

Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy: Discovering the Grace of Lament by Mark Vroegop

 This book will enrich your life and equip you to pray about personal and national issues with a fresh approach. Part 1 breaks down the basic structure of psalms that express grief or sorrow (at least a third of the psalms); Part 2 examines the book of Lamentations; and Part 3 suggests how you can use such biblical expressions to pray for yourself and your community.

 Author Mark Vroegop is no stranger to lament. As he and his wife suffered through the loss of a stillborn daughter and several miscarriages, he sought and found strength in God’s Word. In Psalms, Vroegop discovered a four-part pattern of laments that lead from anguish and hopelessness to renewed hope. 

 In the book of Lamentations, the prophet Jeremiah grieves the destruction of Jerusalem and its temple by the invading Babylonians. As we grieve over today’s world conflicts, we can relate to such feelings of despair. But both the psalms of lament and the book of Lamentations offer a roadway to grace and remind us God is on His throne.

 The book contains helpful appendixes including one that categorizes the psalms and another that offers a “Learning-to-Lament” worksheet. There’s also a bibliography, a general index and a scripture index.

 Don’t be put off by the heavy tone of the title. This book offers Christians a valuable and workable guide to express feelings of depression and despair. 

 

Let Us Pray . . . In a Different Way

 

A Morning Watch opened my eyes in more ways than one. Several months ago our pastor invited us to join him for prayer at 6 a.m. on Thursday mornings, either in his office or via Zoom. I’m a “morning person,” so the time is fine, except at that hour I’m usually in my jammies with a bedhead. Nevertheless, I Zoomed in. And I’m glad I did.

 Each week Pastor Peter shares devotional thoughts, including different ways of praying. Since then, I’ve also read up on prayer. Here’s how three patterns of prayer have blessed my heart.

 CENTERING PRAYER: Read slowly and out loud a verse or a paragraph of scripture. Repeat three times. Then choose a word or phrase from that passage. Set a timer for ten or fifteen minutes, then close your eyes and meditate on the word or phrase you chose. You’re not praying “for” something. You’re listening to hear what God says to your heart about that word or phrase.

 One morning I focused on “living in love” from Ephesians 5:2. As I meditated, I realized if I can just live in an awareness of God’s love at all times and in all places, it will not matter what happens to me. Well, it’s not that it won’t matter, but I will be more aware that God is with me, loves me and comforts me. And furthermore, I can pass on that love to others. Of course it’s easier said than done, but I want to work on “living in love.”

 SCRIPTURAL PRAYER: Pattern your prayer after one of the prayers found in scripture. For starters, there are the prayers of Hannah (1 Samuel 1: 11 and 2:1-10), Daniel (Daniel 9:4-16), Hezekiah (2 Kings 20:2-3), Mary (Luke 1:38 and 46-55) and Paul (Ephesians 1:15-23; Philippians 1:9-11; Colossians 1:9-14). 

 I’ve prayed Daniel’s pattern of prayer for America and Paul’s pattern for family and friends. Paul reminds me to pray for spiritual growth for others, not just for what makes them happy. Many other passages of scripture might prompt prayers.

 PRAYERS OF LAMENT: These prayers spell out your feelings: complaints, anger, sufferings, frustrations and heartaches. Rather than stifle your pain, you tell God exactly how you feel. God knows what’s in your heart anyway, so you let it all out. You pound the table and weep!

 I prayed this prayer before I ever knew it was called a prayer of lament. After the death of our infant daughter, I discovered my heart echoed the cries of the psalmist in Psalm 42. I sought to know God in a deeper way (v. 1 - my soul pants for you), yet I cried at unexpected times during the day and as soon as I put my head on the pillow at night (v. 3 - my tears have been my food day and night). 

 I asked, how a baby could die at birth in the 20th century? I felt depressed (v. 5 - my soul, why are you downcast). Yet I remembered how God had been with me in the past and clung to the hope that He would see me through the present (v. 11 - I will yet praise him).

 That psalm, that prayer of lament, was a lifeline that I clung to during the weeks, months and really years of grief. Grief doesn’t “go away.” You learn to cope with it and move on with life. Many psalms can help you heal as you echo the psalmist’s “lament.”

 Pick one of these styles of prayer and give it a try. God enjoys your company. He longs to talk WITH you rather than just listen TO you. You will feel blessed. And I’d love to hear about your experience.