beautiful lament

Lamentation is the highest form of praise that exists on earth. It is unique to earth. Heaven cannot copy it because there are no tears or sorrow in Heaven. Lamentation allows us to do something that Heaven cannot... worship the Lord when we are in a place of utmost distress.

Lamentation carries with it a "though" and a "yet" (Habakkuk 3:17-19, Job 13:15). "Though" we are in a place of critical distress, where we are burdened and saddened beyond our strength to bare..."yet", we will exult in the Lord.

To exult means to be delighted, full of elation, in high spirits, jubilant, overjoyed, in celebration. God does not ask us to put aside our grief or our burden. He asks us to make it an offering. To step into the place of His Majesty and Beauty and bring it with us. Use it. There is never a good enough reason not to rejoice. Lamentation allows us to step into a place in the Father's affection where our tears mingle with adoration and He has first place ahead of our suffering. This is where worship enters the realm of glory.

- Graham Cooke