Walking with God Through the Valley
In Walking with God Through the Valley, May Young writes on recovering the purpose of biblical lament. In the introduction, she states that this subject became personal to her when she found herself struggling as a young wife with two small children, married to a pastor who was church planting but was also unfaithful. She felt alone and abandoned, and learned to lament.
Understanding Biblical Lament
The first half of the book provides helpful context for understanding biblical lament. Young defines lament as “expressing the reality of suffering,” or more specically expressing what one feels in the midst of pain. It is part of the process of grieving and healing. She explains that lament can be both individual and corporate, and Christians find the Psalms and Lamentation as our primary corpus when examining it is a genre of literature.
When we apply lament to the church, we see how it gives voice to a people in pain, provides an avenue to engage God, and leads us to greater hope. Young gives examples of how ancient eastern cultuers practiced lament, but biblical lament is differnet because it appeals to a God who knows us, cares, and acts on our behalf.
Practicing Biblical Lament
The second half of the book expounds on practicing biblical lament for various situations. Young looks at lament in sin/repentance, doubt/questions, injustice/unfair circumstances and anger, loneliness/abandonment, sickness/physical pain, and finally in death/loss. In these chapters, she provides personal testimonies to show how the process of lament works in practice. I remembered that every story is different, and the church is a place to meet with God despite the pain.
At the end of each chapter, Young offers guidance on how to practice lament in individual and corporate settings. Honesty and expression are at the forefront. This made me realize that it could take time to come to a biblical understanding and practice of lament, and to be patient with God’s people.
His Strength Will Sustain
After reading this book, I am encouraged to not shy away from practicing lament in my personal life or in the corporate setting of the church. While I understood lament as a literary genre, I now see how it should inform the life of the Christian. Most of all, I am encouraged by the hope that our God gives to the hurting, and how even in the darkest seasons – his strength will sustain.
I received a media copy of Walking with God Through the Valley and this is my honest review. Find more of my book reviews and follow Dive In, Dig Deep on Instagram - my account dedicated to Bibles and books to see the beauty of the Bible and the role of reading in the Christian life. To read all of my book reviews and to receive all of the free eBooks I find on the web, subscribe to my free newsletter.