Have you ever prayed a prayer of lament?
Have you read through the Psalms and wondered if you could approach God with such raw honesty and deep sorrow?
Learning to lament is vital for us as believers. It allows us to walk through suffering and difficulties faithfully with the Lord, rather than stuffing down or avoiding the pain tied to our circumstances. Scripture teaches us how, and in Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy: Rediscovering the Grace of Lament by Mark Vroegop, we’re given a framework to both understand and respond to the brokenness of this world before the Lord.
Keep reading to learn more about this insightful resource!
How Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy Teaches the Importance of Biblical Lament | Book Review
Content
Content
Purpose of the Book
As the author writes, “the aim of this book is to help you discover the grace of lament—to encourage you to find deep mercy in dark clouds.” He answers the questions about what lament is, what the Bible teaches us in the Psalms and Lamentations, and how we, as believers, can (and should) incorporate lament into our corporate and individual prayer.
Table of Contents
Introduction: Life in a Minor Key | A Personal Journey
Part 1: Learning to Lament | Psalms of Lament
Keep Turning to Prayer | Psalm 77
Bring Your Complaints | Psalm 10
Ask Boldly | Psalm 22
Choose to Trust | Psalm 13
Part 2: Learning from Lament | Lamentations
A Broken World and a Holy God | Lamentations 1-2
Hope Springs from Truth Rehearsed | Lamentations 3
Unearthing Idols | Lamentations 4
A Roadmap to Grace | Lamentations 5
Part 3: Living with Lament | Personal and Community Applications
Making Lament Personal
Let Us Lament
Conclusion: Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy | The Journey Ahead
Summary
In the first part of Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy, Mark Vroegop introduces the four elements of lament through the Psalms: it is a prayer to the Lord that includes a complaint, a request, and an expression of trust in God. He emphasizes that lament does not leave us stuck in our complaint. Instead, it moves us to make requests grounded in God's unchanging character. Even as we navigate the stormy waters of grief, lament leads us to declare our trust in Him.
In the second part, Vroegop turns to the book of Lamentations, reminding us that sin—both personal and pervasive—is the ultimate problem. Yet, as believers, we are called to hope audaciously, even in life's hardest moments, because lament is an act of faith. Through lament, we confront not only our pain but also the misplaced trusts of our hearts, inviting us to repentance and renewed reliance on God.
The final chapters provide practical guidance for incorporating prayers of lament into personal devotion, as well as within the context of leading or gathering with others. Vroegop equips readers to embrace lament as a communal and personal practice, enriching both individual faith and collective worship.
My Take
One reason we may hesitate to talk about lament is our discomfort with the idea of complaining to God. Perhaps it conjures images of our children during a particularly whiny moment, or a colleague who constantly voices dissatisfaction. Just thinking about it can make us bristle. Or maybe we associate complaint with anger directed at God and, out of reverence and holy fear, we hold back.
Time and again, the Psalms echo with complaints: “How long, O Lord…” These honest cries acknowledge the reality of our circumstances, recognizing that things are not as they should be. Yet, these words are directed to God, not out of anger—indeed, that would be wrong—but out of the deep pain of living in a world marred by brokenness.
Working in the ER and helping others navigate mental health crises, I am confronted daily by the brokenness of this world. The consequences of sin are constantly at my doorstep—not only in my own life but even more starkly in the suffering and injustices my patients endure. Things are not as they should be, and my heart aches for these people and their pain.
This is where lament has brought me an immense amount of peace.
Remembering that lament is a prayer reshapes our posture into one of dependence. In lament, we bring our powerlessness to the Almighty, our pain to the Great Physician, and our uncertainty to the Alpha and Omega. This humility reminds us that we are looking to God’s hand for help, trusting in His strength and sovereignty.
So while I cannot bring a cure, the Lord can—and has. Not only for me as a helper, but for those in my care. Our great hope rests in Him and the work and person of Christ. Though we lament things are not as they should be, we cling to the promise that one day they will be. It is a hope only He can provide.
Where are you struggling right now with the brokenness of the world? Can you respond with a prayer of lament?
My Recommendation
I highly recommend this book!!
You don’t need to be struggling with grief or loss for this book to be helpful. Honestly, I kinda avoided it for awhile because I felt anxious about how I’d respond to reading a book on lament while wounds of suffering lingered. But, you know what, these truths were a balm for the raw soreness of my heart; an encouragement my soul was blessed by.
This will be a benefit for those leading ministries, to give a framework for lament, but also for you personally. We all wrestle through difficult times and here we learn how to pray intentionally and faithfully through it.
I hope you’ll pick it up!
Quick Stats
# of Pages: 223
Level of Difficulty: Easy-Mod
My Rating: 5 stars
More Like This
[WATCH] From the Author: 2 Reasons Why We Don't Know How to Lament
In this 2 minute clip, discover the author's heart for lament as a category of prayer and how important it is to our Christian faith.
Scriptures About Lament
Why, O Lord, do you stand far away? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble? (Ps. 10:1)
How lonely sits the city that was full of people! How like a widow has she become, she who was great among the nations! She who was a princess among the provinces has become a slave. (Lam. 1:1)
How long must I take counsel in my soul and have sorrow in my heart all the day? How long shall my enemy be exalted over me? (Ps. 13:2)
For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin (Heb. 4:15)
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