Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy Quotes

“You might think lament is the opposite of praise. It isn’t. Instead, lament is a path to praise as we are led through our brokenness and disappointment.6 The space between brokenness and God’s mercy is where this song is sung. Think of lament as the transition between pain and promise. It is the path from heartbreak to hope.”
― Mark Vroegop, Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy: Discovering the Grace of Lament

“The lament of Good Friday was answered three days later with the empty tomb. The greatest injustice in history became the greatest display of divine mercy. Tragedy became triumph. Lament was the voice in between.”
― Mark Vroegop, Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy: Discovering the Grace of Lament

“When brokenness becomes your life, lament helps you turn to God. It lifts your head and turns your tear-filled eyes toward the only hope you have: God's grace.”
― Mark Vroegop, Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy: Discovering the Grace of Lament

“To cry is human, but to lament is Christian.”
― Mark Vroegop, Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy: Discovering the Grace of Lament

“But lament is different. The practice of lament—the kind that is biblical, honest, and redemptive—is not as natural for us, because every lament is a prayer. A statement of faith. Lament is the honest cry of a hurting heart wrestling with the paradox of pain and the promise of God’s goodness.”
― Mark Vroegop, Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy: Discovering the Grace of Lament

“Prayerful lament is better than silence. However, I've found that many people are afraid of lament. They find it too honest, too open, or too risky. But there's something far worse: silent despair. Giving God the silent treatment is the ultimate manifestation of unbelief. Despair lives under the hopeless resignation that God doesn't care, he doesn't hear, and nothing is ever going to change. People who believe this stop praying, they give up. This silence is a soul killer.”
― Mark Vroegop, Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy: Discovering the Grace of Lament

“After a few encouraging words, he closed with a statement that has become an anchor for my soul and often my target in lament: “Keep trusting the One who keeps you trusting.”
― Mark Vroegop, Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy: Discovering the Grace of Lament

“Lament is the language that helps you believe catastrophe can become eucatastrophe. It vocalizes the pain of the moment while believing that help is on the way. Lament gives us hope because it gives us a glimpse of truth.”
― Mark Vroegop, Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy: Discovering the Grace of Lament

“Every lament is a prayer; a statement of faith”
― Mark Vroegop, Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy: Discovering the Grace of Lament

“Lament is how we learn to live between the poles of a hard life and God’s goodness. It is an opportunity to remind our hearts about God’s faithfulness in the past, especially when the immediate events of life are overwhelmingly negative. While we’re still in pain, lament reminds our hearts of what we believe to be true.”
― Mark Vroegop, Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy: Discovering the Grace of Lament

“Finding an explanation or a quick solution for grief, while an admirable goal, can circumvent the opportunity afforded in lament—to give a person permission to wrestle with sorrow instead of rushing to end it. Walking through sorrow without understanding and embracing the God-given song of lament can stunt the grieving process.”
― Mark Vroegop, Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy: Discovering the Grace of Lament

“Lament can be defined as a loud cry, a howl, or a passionate expression of grief. However, in the Bible lament is more than sorrow or talking about sadness. It is more than walking through the stages of grief. Lament is a prayer in pain that leads to trust.”
― Mark Vroegop, Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy: Discovering the Grace of Lament

“Christians affirm that the world is broken, God is powerful, and he will be faithful. Therefore, lament stands in the gap between pain and promise.”
― Mark Vroegop, Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy: Discovering the Grace of Lament

“At some point in the future, the final word will be spoken. God is going to intervene, and lament is one of the ways we defiantly say, 'This is not over!' In fact, the pain that causes lament can create a longing for the future like nothing else. Maybe you need to put this book down and thank the Lord that 'this is not over.' Christians long for the day when faith shall be sight. Until then, we lament by faith.”
― Mark Vroegop, Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy: Discovering the Grace of Lament

“I’ve come to love the word yet. It marks the place in the journey where pain and belief coexist. It is how we gain the confidence to ask boldly, despite the sorrow and grief we feel. Yet means that I choose to keep asking God for help, to cry out to him for my needs, even when the pain of life is raw. Yet”
― Mark Vroegop, Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy: Discovering the Grace of Lament

“Every lament is a prayer, a statement of faith. Lament is the honest cry of a hurting hurt wrestling with the paradox of pain and the promise of God's goodness.”
― Mark Vroegop, Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy: Discovering the Grace of Lament

“El lamento en oración es mejor que el silencio.”
― Mark Vroegop, Nubes oscuras, misericordia profunda: Descubre la gracia de Dios en el lamento

“El lamento comienza con la invitación de volverse a Dios cuando estamos padeciendo.”
― Mark Vroegop, Nubes oscuras, misericordia profunda: Descubre la gracia de Dios en el lamento

“A thought, be it good or bad, can be dealt with when it is made articulate.”
― Mark Vroegop, Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy: Discovering the Grace of Lament

“lament directs our emotions by prayerfully vocalizing our hurt, our questions, and even our doubt. Turning to prayer through lament is one of the deepest and most costly demonstrations of belief in God.”
― Mark Vroegop, Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy: Discovering the Grace of Lament

“Lament can be defined as a loud cry, a howl, or a passionate expression of grief. However, in the Bible lament is more than sorrow or talking about sadness. It is more than walking through the stages of grief. Lament is a prayer in pain that leads to trust. Throughout the Scriptures, lament gives voice to the strong emotions that believers feel because of suffering. It wrestles with the struggles that surface. Lament typically asks at least two questions: (1) “Where are you, God?” (2) “If you love me, why is this happening?”
― Mark Vroegop, Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy: Discovering the Grace of Lament

“Lament is the honest cry of a hurting heart wrestling with the paradox of pain and the promise of God’s goodness.”
― Mark Vroegop, Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy: Discovering the Grace of Lament

“I wonder how many believers stop speaking to God about their pain. Disappointed by unanswered prayers or frustrated by out-of-control circumstances, these people wind up in a spiritual desert unable—or refusing—to talk to God. This silence is a soul killer.”
― Mark Vroegop, Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy: Discovering the Grace of Lament

“A lament honestly and specifically names a situation or circumstance that is painful, wrong, or unjust—in other words, a circumstance that does not align with God’s character and therefore does not make sense within God’s kingdom.”2”
― Mark Vroegop, Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy: Discovering the Grace of Lament

“Every human being has the same opening story. Life begins with tears. It’s simply a part of what it means to be human—to cry is human.”
― Mark Vroegop, Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy: Discovering the Grace of Lament

“Lament is how you live between the poles of a hard life and trusting in God’s sovereignty.”
― Mark Vroegop, Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy: Discovering the Grace of Lament

“In lament we reaffirm what we believe. We say to ourselves, “God’s mercy never ends,” “waiting is not a waste,” “the final word has not been spoken,” and “God is always good.”
― Mark Vroegop, Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy: Discovering the Grace of Lament

“In the midst of suffering, remember that waiting on the Lord is not a waste.”
― Mark Vroegop, Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy: Discovering the Grace of Lament

“In lament, we are honest with the struggles of life while also reminding ourselves that God never stops being God. His steadfast love never ends. He is sufficient. Therefore, our hope is not in a change of circumstances but in the promise of a God who never stops being merciful—even when dark clouds loom. His mercy never ceases.”
― Mark Vroegop, Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy: Discovering the Grace of Lament

“I’ve come to love the word yet. It marks the place in the journey where pain and belief coexist. It is how we gain the confidence to ask boldly, despite the sorrow and grief we feel. Yet means that I choose to keep asking God for help, to cry out to him for my needs, even when the pain of life is raw. Yet reminds us that sorrow doesn’t have to yield before we ask God for help. Part of the grace of lament is the way it invites us to pray boldly even when we are bruised badly.”
― Mark Vroegop, Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy: Discovering the Grace of Lament