In what ways can we "weep and wail" for today's spiritual desolations? The Call to Holy Lament “Come now, you who are rich, weep and wail over the misery to come upon you.” – James 5:1 James summons his readers to a visible, audible grief. The words “weep and wail” (Greek: klaiein kai ololyzein) paint the picture of gut-level mourning, the kind that erupts when a city lies in ruins or a loved one is lost. In our day, the rubble is often spiritual: hollow religion, cultural decadence, and hearts grown cold toward Christ. Scripture never tells us to shrug at such ruin; it urges us to feel it, name it, and mourn before the Lord. Recognizing Today’s Spiritual Desolations • A church culture tempted to exchange holiness for popularity (2 Timothy 4:3-4). • Rampant materialism that blinds us to eternal treasure (Matthew 6:19-21). • The erosion of marriage and family (Malachi 2:13-16). • Celebrated immorality that mocks God’s design (Romans 1:24-32). • Lost souls all around who “walk in darkness” (Ephesians 4:18). When we see these realities as God sees them, tears become fitting—and even prophetic. How to Weep and Wail in a Christ-Honoring Way 1. Personal Repentance • Ask the Spirit to expose any part of that desolation living inside you (Psalm 139:23-24). • Confess concretely, naming sins rather than speaking in vague generalities (1 John 1:9). • Embrace godly sorrow that produces real change, not mere regret (2 Corinthians 7:10). 2. Intercessory Lament • Follow the pattern of Ezra, who tore his garment and “fell on his knees, spreading out his hands to the LORD” for his nation’s unfaithfulness (Ezra 9:5-6). • Carry the grief of others before God, like Paul who had “unceasing anguish” for Israel’s lost condition (Romans 9:2-3). • Use the Psalms of lament (e.g., 79, 80, 137) as ready-made words when yours run dry. 3. Corporate Mourning • Call special gatherings devoted to confession and lament (Joel 2:15-17). • Include times of silence, allowing the weight of sin to settle before rushing to resolution. • Sing songs that give voice to sorrow as well as to hope (Psalm 42). 4. Fasting with Mourning • Couple your tears with abstaining from food or other comforts (Nehemiah 1:4). • Let physical hunger remind you of spiritual barrenness and deepen dependence on God. 5. Prophetic Action • Like Jeremiah buying a ruined linen belt (Jeremiah 13), use symbolic acts—simple, humble gestures that dramatize the message: candlelight vigils, sackcloth, or black armbands. • Do it in humility, never as theatrics but as a visible sermon calling people back to covenant faithfulness. 6. Advocacy for the Broken • Lament that never lifts a finger to help the wounded is incomplete (Isaiah 58:6-7). • Channel tears into works of mercy: crisis-pregnancy support, addiction recovery, mentoring at-risk youth. • Every act of rescue says, “This desolation matters, and the kingdom of God offers something better.” Safeguards for Healthy Lament • Anchor grief in the character of God: “The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases” (Lamentations 3:22-23). • Avoid despair by remembering the cross, where ultimate desolation was borne and defeated (Isaiah 53:4-6). • Balance tears with watchful expectancy: “Those who sow in tears will reap with shouts of joy” (Psalm 126:5). The Fruit God Promises • Softened hearts: “I will remove the heart of stone… and give them a heart of flesh” (Ezekiel 11:19). • Renewed witness: brokenness over sin makes the gospel shine brighter (Luke 7:47-50). • True revival: history shows seasons of awakening often begin with widespread weeping (2 Chronicles 34:27-33). Moving Forward The Spirit is still searching for men and women who will stand in the gap, feel the ache, and cry out for mercy (Ezekiel 22:30). When we choose to “weep and wail” over today’s spiritual desolations, we align with prophets, apostles, and our Lord Himself, who “wept over” Jerusalem (Luke 19:41). Such tears are never wasted; they water the seeds of renewal God longs to bring. |
    |