From Lament to Praise: A New Song in Our Hearts
This week, Martin followed up on last week’s message by exploring the journey from lament to praise. The title of the sermon, “The Prayer of Lament Leads Us to Praise,” reminds us that even in our moments of sorrow and struggle, God is present—lifting us up and placing a new song in our hearts.
The Honesty of Lament
Lament is an honest place. It’s where we acknowledge the reality of where we’ve been and what has hurt us—whether it be people, circumstances, or events. Psalm 40 beautifully captures this journey:
“I waited patiently for the Lord to help me, and he turned to me and heard my cry.
He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the mire.
He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along.”
— Psalm 40:1-2 NLT
Just like the U2 song ‘40’, based on Psalm 40, asks, “How long to sing this song?”—we, too, may wonder how long we will remain in a place of lament. But the good news is that God steps in, lifting us up and putting a new song of praise in our hearts.
The Journey from Lament to Praise
When we allow our prayers of lament to lead us into praise, we begin to see life differently. A new perspective forms, one rooted in trust in the Lord. The process moves us from despair to joy, from sorrow to celebration, because we realise:
God is always with us—past, present, and future.
We cannot be separated from His love and faithfulness.
He turns our mourning into dancing, our lament into praise.
As Psalm 40 reminds us, God is the One who sets our feet on solid ground, giving us a firm place to stand. He doesn’t leave us in our troubles—He leads us to delight in doing His will.
From Fasting to Feasting
In Luke 5:33-39, we see John the Baptist’s disciples focused on fasting—a practice of spiritual preparation and repentance, as seen throughout scripture (Esther 4:16, Joel 1:14). However, Jesus reminds them that the time for mourning has passed, for He is already present.
“No need to fast,” Jesus says. It’s time to celebrate and feast.
There is a time for prayer and fasting—for preparation, repentance, and consecration. But there is also a time for prayer and feasting—to rejoice in the presence of Jesus. Just as Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 reminds us:
“For everything there is a season...
a time to cry and a time to laugh,
a time to grieve and a time to dance.”
Now is our time to dance!
A Call to Celebration
Using the film Footloose as an illustration, Martin encouraged us that it’s time to step into celebration. The prayer of lament leads us to joyfulness, to dancing, and to a life lived in the fullness of Christ.
This is our time to:
Dance in His presence.
Live life to the full.
Sing a new song of gladness and joy.
Declare that Jesus is Lord.
Living in His Presence
Whether we are in a season of lament or praise, we are reminded that Jesus is present in every moment—past, present, and future. His presence is constant, and His love is unchanging.
As we move from lament to praise, let’s embrace this time to celebrate, trusting that He has placed our feet on solid ground. Let’s lift our voices in praise and declare that our God is great!
So, are you ready to dance?