"Prayer is the soul’s greatest privilege, it’s hardest labor, it’s purest joy." (Author unknown)

The Psalms are cries of people in their life struggles, mistakes, disappointments, oppressions and heart aches. Lament and cries for vengeance run throughout the Psalms. We see both individuals and community appeals to God for justice, rescue, revenge and complaints. Real cries to God are as simple as "Help!" These are the cries of people in distress, sickness, adversity, betrayal, abandonment, sin, guilt, slander, false accusation, persecution and oppression by enemies and the wicked. We see community prayers during national disasters, defeat, exile and tragedy. These prayers are pleas for help and people honestly describe their physical and emotional suffering. Almost every page of the Psalter is drenched with tears.

"Truly, the Psalter gives voice to the suffering of God’s servants in a hostile and evil world." Lament is often called "the backbone" of the Psalms. People of every kind of faith tradition have wet the pages of this prayer book over the ages and found God is God. God opposes the proud and ruthless and is the ultimate executor of justice. God knows every deed and secret of our hearts. God is Lord of the humble, the needy, the poor, the widow, refugee and orphan. God will never abandon us.

Tears are part of life. People have found God in their tears, sighs, feelings too deep for words in times of despair, disillusionment and disappointments. The Bible is full of crying. A few examples are Job 16:20, Jeremiah 9:1 and Isaiah 16:9. Even Jesus cried. The New Testament part of the Bible tells us he cried with loud cries and tears in Prayer (Hebrews 5:7). He wept over his beloved city, Jerusalem (Matthew 23:37). He taught "Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted" (Matthew 5:4).

Recover the Psalms as a prayer tool. A taste of lament is found in Psalms 13, 22, 35, 88, 130. They are complaints and calls for help by helpless and hurting people. They are cries from desperate conditions. They talk with God and help us respond to God. We learn by praying them. The psalms and prayer are not always easy, but understanding comes with use.

"And they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and the Lord delivered them from their distress" (Psalm 107:6,13, 19, 29).

May each reader find help and the comfort of God in their spiritual prayer journey. God sees. God cares. God answers. God is safe to cry with. God is not afraid of our deep feelings. God loves you.

The author of this material is "Surprised by Joy" (surprisedbyjoy@yahoo.com). "Surprised by Joy" is an ordained UFMCC Christian minister who discovered that God is wonder-full to be with. It is our hope and prayer at soulfoodministry.org that all visitors will experience the tenderloving-kindness of God and receive spiritual food for their journey.