Carried Through the Valley: Transformed by Christ Through Lament

As Christians, we are not privileged to avoid some of life's most difficult times, however, we are blessed to have a God who carries us through those times. "Carried Through the Valley" is a short read for reflection purpose. It is an academic, research-based paper, but it was created to help Christians deal with the pain of loss, despair, depression, lack of hope or faith, separation or divorce, loneliness, or just feeling like God isn't there for you anymore. All of us go through tough times in life, but as Christians, we have a hope and a future if we turn to God during this time.
The subtitle, "Transformed by Christ Through Lament," speaks volumes about how we should respond during tough times in our life. If we turn to God during these times, a transformation can take place. This transformation takes place if you learn to lament properly. Christians today are not taught how to lament, and because they aren't, it prolongs our recovery or it makes us feel worse than we already do.
Lamenting during a crisis will bring us closer to God. It becomes a way to deal with deep-seated emotional issues and gives us a way to express them to the only one who understands what we are going through, and it becomes the avenue of healing and transformation.
This may be a short read, but it has powerful insight for the Christian who is desperately needing God in their most painful time in life. You will find hope as you walk through the Valley of Shadow of death, as you lament and become transformed by Christ through the process. Once you've learned to lament, the next stage is praise.