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127 reviews for:
Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy: Discovering the Grace of Lament
Joni Eareckson Tada, Mark Vroegop
4.41 AVERAGE
127 reviews for:
Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy: Discovering the Grace of Lament
Joni Eareckson Tada, Mark Vroegop
4.41 AVERAGE
challenging
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
What should we do with our grief? This book speaks to Christians and wades boldly into a topic that is often fearfully avoided and offers sobering truth and real hope. The author defines lament by walking through examples from the books of Psalms and Lamentations, identifying biblical patterns of vocalizing real pain in order to teach us how to lament…as an act of worship. There is so much truth here that feels like it’s been staring us in the face all along - it makes sense and sits well within your soul. The author lovingly steers readers away from easy answers and firmly rejects common well-intentioned responses to tragedy. He shares stories throughout that helpfully illustrate what this struggle with grief really looks like and the ways that he and his family and friends have tried to apply these truths in the real world. One of the most striking aspects of this books is the contention that lament isn’t merely an individual exercise but one that can be engaged in collectively, and which Christians who understand the purpose and value of lament can lead others through in our communities when tragedy strikes. This book is indispensable for any Christian who is experiencing traumatic loss, wants to comfort others in their grief, or feels overwhelmed with the massive suffering in our world yet struggles to know what they should do about it.
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
A helpful vision for the place of lament in the Christian life and in church community as a means of navigating our grief and fuelling our hope. I appreciated the way in which the author demonstrates that lament helps us push beyond a Christian niceness or a form of Stoicism that demands we deny our pain into a living trust in God.
In the past I know I have said the wrong things and failed to say the right things to hurting people. It has taken various experiences and input from others to begin to know how to benefit hurting people well. Mark Vroegop’s Dark Clouds Deep Mercy will bless the church as it is a concise, clearly developed guide to the biblical concept of lament. As he demonstrates, lament can help us enter into the lives of hurting people. Vroegop describes lament as “the honest cry of a hurting heart wrestling with the paradox of pain and the promise of God’s goodness.” I am thankful for this book in helping me to understand and implement this beautiful form of prayer.
Dark Clouds Deep Mercy walks the reader through the process of using lament well in the Christian life. In the first section of the book Vroegop discusses the four aspects of lament: an address to God, a complaint, a request, and an expression of trust and/or praise. He demonstrates each aspect by looking at a different psalm and using personal examples. Part II looks at the book of Lamentations as a long example of lament. Part III talks about how Christians should use lament both individually and corporately.
While Vroegop certainly has pastors in mind, as he is a pastor himself, this book is written to engage all Christians and to be useful to all Christians. It is helpful to the pastor in encouraging him to learn lament for himself and to lead his congregation in learning how to lament. It is useful to the lay-person for the same reasons. As people who are called to make disciples, all of us need to know how to help others through difficult times. And lament is a God-given, timeless means by which the hurting begin the process of healing and by which they stay connected to God through the wide range of emotions that accompany grief and pain.
Lament is not the latest pop-psychology nor is it difficult, but Vroegop’s book could challenge some of our assumptions about how we are to relate to God, especially when it comes to one of the four aspects of lament: complaint. We are told, for example in Philippians that we are not to grumble, and grumbling sure seems a close cousin to complaining. Complaint seems to go against the idea of remaining content in life. But it is the beauty of complaint wedded to trust that the Bible not only models but encourages. This book lays out this argument well.
Another disrupting aspect of lament is its open nature. While certainly lament can be done in private—and possibly even silence—it is clearly meant to be both vocal and communal. As individualism is an integral part of American culture, lament will be difficult for some to adopt. But I believe Vroegop makes a compelling case for its necessity as a vital part of the Christian’s life in community.
Dark Clouds Deep Mercy walks the reader through the process of using lament well in the Christian life. In the first section of the book Vroegop discusses the four aspects of lament: an address to God, a complaint, a request, and an expression of trust and/or praise. He demonstrates each aspect by looking at a different psalm and using personal examples. Part II looks at the book of Lamentations as a long example of lament. Part III talks about how Christians should use lament both individually and corporately.
While Vroegop certainly has pastors in mind, as he is a pastor himself, this book is written to engage all Christians and to be useful to all Christians. It is helpful to the pastor in encouraging him to learn lament for himself and to lead his congregation in learning how to lament. It is useful to the lay-person for the same reasons. As people who are called to make disciples, all of us need to know how to help others through difficult times. And lament is a God-given, timeless means by which the hurting begin the process of healing and by which they stay connected to God through the wide range of emotions that accompany grief and pain.
Lament is not the latest pop-psychology nor is it difficult, but Vroegop’s book could challenge some of our assumptions about how we are to relate to God, especially when it comes to one of the four aspects of lament: complaint. We are told, for example in Philippians that we are not to grumble, and grumbling sure seems a close cousin to complaining. Complaint seems to go against the idea of remaining content in life. But it is the beauty of complaint wedded to trust that the Bible not only models but encourages. This book lays out this argument well.
Another disrupting aspect of lament is its open nature. While certainly lament can be done in private—and possibly even silence—it is clearly meant to be both vocal and communal. As individualism is an integral part of American culture, lament will be difficult for some to adopt. But I believe Vroegop makes a compelling case for its necessity as a vital part of the Christian’s life in community.
Lament is not a word I heard much growing up in church. The message most often was, Praise God and things will get better. But if you've ever experienced pain so deep you can barely pray, you'll know that "praise the Lord anyway" is not always the appropriate response.
Mark Vroegop's book acknowledges that we need to develop a practice of lament. "Lament is the song we sing between pain and promise. It becomes the path between the poles of a hard life and trusting God's goodness." Rev Vroegop explains what lament is, how to lament, and how to practice lament with others.
I recommend this book to any who have experienced deep pain, which is probably everyone!. As an added bonus, there are discussion questions with each chapter making it possible to use this book in a book club, Sunday school class, or small group.
Mark Vroegop's book acknowledges that we need to develop a practice of lament. "Lament is the song we sing between pain and promise. It becomes the path between the poles of a hard life and trusting God's goodness." Rev Vroegop explains what lament is, how to lament, and how to practice lament with others.
I recommend this book to any who have experienced deep pain, which is probably everyone!. As an added bonus, there are discussion questions with each chapter making it possible to use this book in a book club, Sunday school class, or small group.
There’s often a forced optimism that seems to co-exist with our faith-walk as a Christian community. And while I don’t believe that optimism in itself is wrong (we should carry the language of hope, after all), in the realm of healing from loss and suffering it seems an inadequate tool. Hope peers at the gaping wound of catastrophe and offers a future, but lament is the bridge that leads us to steeled trust in God into that future. Vroegop address the uncomfortable, and mostly untouched, topic of lament with grace and scripture, but not at the expense of reality and process. This book is an important tool and a salve to the hurting.
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
The past few years have been rough. With the introduction of a chronic illness in 2018, waves of tribulation would forever change my relationship with God. And while the devastation of that year remains, nothing prepared me for the ultimate blow of 2020. The year when Covid-19 hit and forced the world to stand still; the year when graduation was canceled; when the class of 2020 was robbed of the ceremonial closure that celebrated its academic achievements; the year where everything I thought God to be came crumbling down; where the leading of the Divine will no longer made sense; where I was left with nothing more than a shattered identity and a broken worldview.
Since then I’ve struggled to give voice to the utter disappointment; to the pain and anger; to the sentiments of betrayal and deception; to my resentment toward God. Since then, I knew not how to lament—that is, until now.
Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy is in my opinion a concise introduction to a theology of lament. A means that provides a biblical framework for processing the difficulties and sorrowful realities of life. Through accessible and heartfelt language, Mark Vroegop helps his readers understand the meaning of lament and thus provides an outline of its theological significance while simultaneously making it practical. He speaks candidly about grief; about suffering and the injustices of our time; and about making sense of God and world. And while Scripture does not overlook the perplexing realities of life, Mark is adamant about helping us understand that lament is the God-given framework from which we are able to give expression to our pain while also praising—in an unexpected way—an all-loving God.
I'd recommend this to every follower of Christ, particularly those who are undergoing a season of sorrow and/or grief; or to anyone who has undergone difficult times and has yet to give expression to the pain that remains deep within.
I cannot find words to express my gratitude for Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy. But I will say, this book is truly a blessing. A treasure trove of practical and theological gems.
Since then I’ve struggled to give voice to the utter disappointment; to the pain and anger; to the sentiments of betrayal and deception; to my resentment toward God. Since then, I knew not how to lament—that is, until now.
Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy is in my opinion a concise introduction to a theology of lament. A means that provides a biblical framework for processing the difficulties and sorrowful realities of life. Through accessible and heartfelt language, Mark Vroegop helps his readers understand the meaning of lament and thus provides an outline of its theological significance while simultaneously making it practical. He speaks candidly about grief; about suffering and the injustices of our time; and about making sense of God and world. And while Scripture does not overlook the perplexing realities of life, Mark is adamant about helping us understand that lament is the God-given framework from which we are able to give expression to our pain while also praising—in an unexpected way—an all-loving God.
I'd recommend this to every follower of Christ, particularly those who are undergoing a season of sorrow and/or grief; or to anyone who has undergone difficult times and has yet to give expression to the pain that remains deep within.
I cannot find words to express my gratitude for Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy. But I will say, this book is truly a blessing. A treasure trove of practical and theological gems.
A fantastic resource on the much neglected discipline of lament. I think this would be so beneficial to so many pastors, counselors, and people just stuck in the middle of suffering.
Truly one of the best books I’ve read. Whether you’re going through a tragedy or just dealing with disappointment and discouragement, this book is for you. This book helped me to see how to connect the hard stuff in life with the truths of God. Don’t miss this one!