The Louder Song: Listening for Hope in the Midst of Lament

In her book The Louder Song: Listening for Hope in the Midst of Lament, Aubrey Sampson shares her story of chronic, degenerative illness, the tragic loss of a family member, and more—while using the biblical tools of lament to bring her questions about evil and reward to God. She writes, “God has the final word. One day, suffering will cease. Evil will be shut down forever. We will see his new creation. We will see heaven meeting earth. We long to see it now, but 2 Peter 3:9 tells us that God is patiently waiting, not wanting anyone to perish but wanting everyone to come to repentance” (Aubrey Sampson, The Louder Song: Listening for Hope in the Midst of Lament [Colorado Springs: NavPress, 2019], 159–60). When we long for a reward for our patience and suffering but receive only more years of suffering, lament can become a tool of perseverance.