"Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy: Discovering the Grace of Lament" by Mark Vroegop. A Review

 


Since "Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy" already has hundreds of reviews, I'll cut straight to the chase. This is an important and delightful book. Mark Vroegop, Lead Pastor of College Park Church in Indianapolis, has given broken hearts a valuable, award winning 224-page softback manual on the legitimacy of lamenting during the dismal seasons of life. The author doesn't make light, fluffy assessments, but takes readers into the heart of God to disburden their souls. "Grief is not tame. Lament is not a simplistic formula. Instead, lament is the song you sing believing that one day God will answer and restore" (33).


The author walks the hurting, weeping, broken, and blistered through four Psalms (77, 10, 22, and 13) to show the four major tenets of lament: (1) turn to God; (2) bring your complaint, (3) ask boldly, and (4) chose to trust. Then he works us into the book  of Lamentations. Step-by-step he gives hope and help by guiding readers from one chapter to the next. Finally, he lands on ways to make lamenting personal and congregational. Vroegop's aim in the book hits the target dead-center, "The aim of this book has been to help you discover the grace of lament. When dark clouds roll in, lament is the path to find mercy - even as the clouds linger. Lament is the bridge between dark clouds and deep mercy" (190). This is a book to be had by all, read, digested, and practiced. I highly recommend the book.

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