Laughter and Lament: The Radical Freedom of Joy and Sorrow

by Steve Brown

What do we do with the sadness and the joy that living in a broken world brings to our lives? Most try to avoid the tears and focus on finding happiness, but does that really work? Denial might help to alleviate pain for the short run, but eventually lament must be faced and expressed. Learning to lament honestly to God is the surprising path to learning about real joy.

When we experience or see tragedy, we expect tears, fear, and sometimes anger, and when we experience the good and pleasant, we expect joy and maybe even laughter. However, laughter and lament are often found together in unexpected places. How can we explain the opposite effect—laughter in the pain and tears in the joy?

Steve Brown shares that speaking honestly about the ways we have been hurt and the ways we have hurt others opens the door to the joy of God's presence even as we grieve. Instead of pretending that everything is fine, going to God with all of our laments fills us with the freedom and joy of knowing his love and forgiveness. This is the surprising message of freedom that Christians have to share with a world where pain is almost always cursed and laughter is almost always cynical.

Genres: Christian Living

176 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 24, 2022

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Reviews

[Joan · Rating 4 out of 5]

We are going to have tribulation in this world, Brown reminds us. John 16:33 promises it. But we will also have laughter because John 16:33 also promises Jesus has overcome the world. So how does a Christian live in both of these realms?

Brown is old enough and been a faithful believer long enough that he has no desire to impress anybody. He is just real. In fact, he writes, “God's gift to his people is the freedom to be real...” (239/2151) That means we don't put on a religious face. We have permission to be authentic and express our feelings, our frustrations, our anger. “Jesus didn't die to make us nice,” he writes. (625/2151) We miss out on deep intimacy with God when we fail to share with him the depths of our pain and our joy.

Brown says he is not interested in being particularly spiritual. He's been there, done that. He cusses. In fact, he teaches readers how to cuss in Latin. That way people will think you are terribly smart and not know at all you are cussing.

Some may think Brown irreverent but I see a man old enough to quit at playing the act religious game. He's real with God and he is real with us. Reading this book will give you the freedom to be real with God. It will give you the freedom to express pain and genuine lament, real repentance and the freedom of laughter. But be ready to be honest and real. No phony people will appreciate Brown's book.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.

[Emily Flowers · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book disappointed me, unfortunately. I loved this concept, and kept pressing on because I resonated with the basic premise and the heart of the author. The writing seemed glib at times to me though, and I felt that a few strong stances could have been developed more fully. For example, he talks about anger being a healthy part of lament and healing, but he doesn’t help the reader (me!) distinguish between good and sinful anger, and how to turn from sinful anger to healthy lament.

[Leslie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Steve Brown’s Laughter and Lament: The Radical Freedom of Joy and Sorrow takes the reader on a journey of honesty on dealing with the layers of joy and sorrow that life brings our way. Pulling from personal and life experiences, as well as experiences as a Minister, Mr. Brown helps us sift through what we think life should be and what it actually is emotionally and how God is there with us in the midst of it all. Through the sadness and toughness of life and the emotions that go along with it, Mr. Brown reminds us that is ok to have the emotions that we are experiencing, but at the same time have a little bit of Joy too. And in the midst of it we may find or feel a sense of freedom.

Steve Brown is a new-to-me author and Laughter and Lament: The Radical Freedom of Joy and Sorrow is different then the books I usually gravitate toward. I really did not know what to expect when reading Laughter and Lament: The Radical Freedom of Joy and Sorrow, but, surprisingly, I found the read comforting and it resonated with me. I loved how honest and truthful Mr. Brown was in what he wrote and his convictions. I love how Mr. Brown marries the emotions of laughter and lament/joy and sorrow and shows the reader that sometimes they go hand-in-hand. By doing this, Mr. Brown shows the reader that God always brings bits of joy through the darkness. Again by doing this, Mr. Brown shows the reader that it is OK to experience joy in the middle of our difficulties because it helps us to keep going and gives us a sense of freedom. I also love that one of the many underlying themes in Laughter and Lament was that God is with us through it all. I also love that through the book Mr. Brown stresses that even though he is a minister and has been in the field for many years, he is not perfect and does not have it all together and is still learning himself. Being a Licensed Minister myself, I appreciated that and feel that Ministers need to hear that and be reminded it’s ok not to have it all together (and to tell those they minister to that as well). I encourage everyone to read Laughter and Lament: The Radical Freedom of Joy and Sorrow by Steve Brown. I believe it will minister to you and remind you that it is ok to feel all the feels and have joy and laughter through the process, knowing God is with you through it all.

I would like to thank New Growth Press for giving me a copy of Laughter and Lament: The Radical Freedom of Joy and Sorrow by Steve Brown to review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. My review is also on my blog, Leslie's Library Escape.

[Gary · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoy listening to Steve Brown's talks on YouTube. He is a great communicator with a deep grandfatherly voice. He speaks in a very relaxed manner and has a great sense of humor. You can listen to him on YouTube by searching for "Steve Brown Key Life".

Steve writes just like he talks. While his speaking style works well for his talks, it unfortunately is hard to read. He is a great storyteller, but his writing often left me feeling like I could not follow where he was going. By referring to the Table of Contents I was able to see where he was taking me in his writing. It would have been helpful if he had a few bullet points in each chapter. Nevertheless, I did find his book to faithfully describe how our life often turns out, and how we can lament and also be filled with joy in our circumstances in life. This is a book that is honest and real.

[Landon Coleman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Brown is a storyteller, and there are lots of stories in this book. It's a work of pastoral theology, thinking through suffering and joy, laughter and lament. Much of the advice is biblical. Places are slightly less "reverent" than they could be, which is Brown's goal in writing the book (and is also Brown's goal in his preaching and media ministry). Those struggling with sorrow, sadness, and suffering would likely find hope in Brown's advice.

[Karin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just finished this book, and I'm still processing it. I've honestly never heard a sermon or message on lament, so I'm trying to wrap my head around the idea that God's okay with our emotions, that he's okay with us crying out in frustration and discouragement.

I honestly don't know what to say other than: if you're a Christian who's been in a dark place for a while or who struggles to find the light in the darkness, this might be the book for you. It's encouraging and thought-provoking.

[Jim Gulley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Folksy, Biblically true, straight from the heart. Steve Brown writes in his unique conversational style and explains the truths about grace in the life of a believer.

[Tim Sheppard · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nothing special. Was hoping for a deeper treatment.

[Barry Malphrus · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a good book to read if you have not read a lot of Steve Brown books up to now. He is a very articulate man and that is why I like to read his books. I think they are helpful reads.

[Mandy Stock · Rating 4 out of 5]

helpful for a personal retreat

[Jim Teggelaar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Steve Brown is as real as it gets, and I always hear his voice when I read his books. And there is no better voice. As I become an old guy, I find myself just not trusting or caring much for pastors or Christian teachers who are younger than me. Not enough life experience, and faith that often hasn't been tested or proven. Steve is as old as the hills, and again, as real as it gets. He writes here about all the pain and sorrow in life, and the laughter, for the Christian, on the other side. Wonderful, read it.