Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy - Week 3 Resources & Reflection Questions

"Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy: Discovering the Grace of Lament" *

*our new teaching series inspired by and adapted from Mark Vroegop's book of the same title.

 

Resources for Further Study

  • BOOK: Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy by Mark Vroegop - buy on Amazon
  • BOOK: Thinking Right When Things Go Wrong by John Hutchison - Amazon
  • BIBLE READING PLAN: If you use the YouVersion Bible app by Life.Church, you might want to look for the "Learning to Lament" 5-day devotional.
  • PODCAST: The Gospel Coalition podcast episode #77 entitled "Discover the Grace of Lament" is a one-hour talk featuring the author, Mark Vroegop.
  • VIDEO: Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy author speaking at EFCA Theology Conference - "The Psalms & Christian Lament"

 

Week #3 Reflection Questions (adapted from the book listed above)

  1. What would happen if a person stopped the lament process with complaint and didn't move toward asking boldly?
  2. How can bold requests move us from focusing on why to focusing on who? Why is that important?
  3. Why is the word yet so important in Psalm 22? Write out your own sentence expressing pain but also including a personal statement that moves through yet to who God is.
  4. Review the four requests in Psalm 22 and the nine categories (see below). Which prayers are most meaningful to you and why?
  5. In light of the present struggle you are facing, what bold requests do you need to pray?
  6. How could this chapter change the way you help a person who is grieving and struggling?
Nine Examples/Types of Bold Questions We See in the Psalms:
• “Arise, O Lord!” – Psalms 3, 7, 9, 10, 17, 74, 94
• “Grant us help.” – Psalm 60:11-12
• “Remember your covenant” – Psalm 25:6
• “Let justice be done.” – Psalm 83:16-18
• “Don’t remember our sins.” - Palm 51:1, Psalm 79:8-9
• “Restore us!” – Psalm 80:3
• “Don’t be silent. Listen to me!” – Psalm 28:1-2
• “Teach me.” – Psalm 143:10, Psalm 90:12, Psalm 86:11
• “Vindicate me.” – Psalm 35:23-24