Theology 201 – Spiritual Formation and the Psalms of Lament

Assessment 2: Reflective Essay and Formation Plan

Assessment Overview

Assessment 2 sits in the middle of the semester and focuses on spiritual formation through the Psalms of lament. The task invites you to study selected lament psalms, reflect on your own practice of prayer, and describe concrete steps for integrating lament into your ongoing walk with God. The assessment builds on earlier work on biblical genres and prepares for later units that expect a more mature engagement with Scripture, worship, and pastoral care.

Assessment title: Reflective Essay and Spiritual Formation Plan – Psalms of Lament
Course code/title: THEO 201 – Foundations of Spiritual Formation
Assessment number: Assessment 2 (Week 5)
Type: Individual written reflection and practice plan
Length: 1,200–1,500 words (excluding title page and reference list)
Weighting: 25% of final grade
Submission: Word document (.docx) via the LMS
Referencing style: Turabian (notes and bibliography) or APA 7, as required by your program

Learning Outcomes Assessed

Identify key features and movements of biblical lament, with special attention to the Psalms.
Reflect critically on personal patterns of prayer, emotion, and honesty before God.
Articulate a simple, realistic formation plan that connects biblical lament to daily discipleship.
Write in a clear, coherent academic style that honours both theological content and personal reflection.

Task Description

You will write a reflective essay that draws on at least two Psalms of lament and one spiritual formation reading from the unit, then you will outline a brief personal formation plan. The focus stays on how lament can shape Christian character, relationships, and ministry, rather than on technical exegesis alone.

Part A: Reflective Essay on Psalms of Lament (700–900 words)

Select two lament psalms
Choose two psalms from the unit list such as Psalm 13, 42–43, 69, 88, or 142. Give a short description of each psalm’s situation, main petitions, and expressions of trust or hope. Comment briefly on any repeated words or images that stand out to you.
Describe the pattern of lament
Identify the typical movements in lament including complaint, request, expression of trust, and praise, and show how they appear, or do not appear, in your chosen psalms. Note where the psalmist speaks directly to God and where they speak about their circumstances or enemies.
Connect with personal experience
Reflect on your own experience of prayer in seasons of loss, disappointment, or confusion. Explain how closely your instinctive way of praying matches the pattern of the lament psalms, and where there are gaps or resistance. Use honest but appropriate self-disclosure that respects your own boundaries and the classroom community.

Part B: Spiritual Formation Plan (500–600 words)

Identify an area for growth
Name one or two specific areas where you sense a need for growth in relation to lament, such as expressing grief, naming injustice, or holding trust and complaint together. Link these areas clearly to insights from your chosen psalms and the unit readings.
Propose concrete practices
Outline two or three simple practices that you will experiment with over the next four weeks. Examples may include praying one lament psalm aloud each week, journaling a prayer of complaint, or including lament in small group worship. Be realistic about time and context, and explain why these practices could help shape your relationship with God and others.
Describe hoped for outcomes
State what you hope God may form in you through these practices, such as deeper honesty in prayer, greater empathy for others, or increased patience in waiting for God. Acknowledge that you cannot control outcomes, but you can choose to place yourself in patterns of prayer that open you to God’s work.

Formal Requirements

Word count of 1,200–1,500 words, clearly stated at the end of the document.
Use clear headings such as Introduction, Lament in the Psalms, Personal Reflection, Formation Plan, and Conclusion.
Include at least four sources:
- Two biblical passages from your chosen psalms
- At least two academic or reputable theological resources from the unit reading list or the library
Cite all sources consistently in the required style.
Write in the first person where appropriate, while maintaining an academic tone.

Marking Rubric (100 Marks)

Criterion	A (85–100)	B (70–84)	C (50–69)	D–F (<50)
1. Engagement with Biblical Texts (25)	Shows clear and accurate description of selected psalms; identifies movements of lament with strong textual support; integrates Scripture naturally into the reflection.	Describes psalms accurately, with minor gaps; recognises main movements of lament; uses Scripture appropriately but with limited depth.	Offers basic summary of psalms; misses or confuses some elements of lament; limited connection between text and reflection.	Misrepresents or barely engages with the psalms; little use of the biblical text in the discussion.
2. Theological and Formational Insight (25)	Demonstrates thoughtful reflection on how lament shapes spiritual formation; connects psalms, readings, and lived experience in a coherent way.	Provides clear reflection with some insight; links between theology and formation are present but may not be fully developed.	Offers general statements about formation; limited or surface level links to theology and the unit material.	Shows minimal theological engagement; reflection remains vague or disconnected from formation concerns.
3. Personal Reflection and Self Awareness (20)	Shares honest, appropriate self reflection; recognises patterns of strength and avoidance in prayer; shows growing awareness of emotional and spiritual responses.	Provides clear personal reflection; some recognition of patterns, though analysis remains somewhat general.	Includes basic personal comment; limited self awareness or connection to specific experiences.	Little or no meaningful personal reflection; comments are either overly private without reflection or purely abstract.
4. Quality of Formation Plan (20)	Proposes specific, realistic practices that flow directly from the biblical and theological reflection; articulates plausible and thoughtful hoped for outcomes.	Offers clear practices with some link to reflection; outcomes are sensible but may be described briefly.	Suggests vague or overly ambitious practices; limited explanation of why these practices matter.	Formation plan is missing, unclear, or unrelated to the rest of the essay.
5. Writing, Structure, and Referencing (10)	Writing is clear, organised, and fluent; paragraphs follow a logical sequence; correct use of referencing style with very few errors.	Structure is generally sound; occasional awkward sentences or transitions; referencing mostly correct.	Some problems with clarity or organisation; noticeable referencing errors, but basic requirements are met.	Disorganised or difficult to read; many errors in language or referencing; presentation does not meet unit expectations.

Additional Academic Insight

The practice of lament within the Psalms offers a formative framework that integrates emotional honesty with theological trust, allowing believers to articulate suffering while remaining oriented toward God’s covenant faithfulness. This dynamic contributes to spiritual maturity by shaping a disciplined yet authentic prayer life that resists both denial and despair, fostering resilience and relational depth in both personal devotion and communal worship (West, 2015).

References

Emmaus Institute. (2024, March 31). Psalms of lament. https://emmausinstitute.net/psalms-of-lament/
West, S. (2015). Psalms of lament as a resource for contemporary Christian worship. Anvil, 31(3), 167–178. https://www.academia.edu/14450217/Psalms_of_Lament_as_a_Resource_for_Contemporary_Christian_Worship
Appraisal of spiritual formation in theological education. (n.d.). Asia Theological Association. https://ataindia.org/wp-content/uploads/Appraisal-of-Spiritual-Formation-in-Theological-Education.pdf
Formation rubric. (n.d.). Luther Seminary. https://meh.religioused.org/web/assets/handouts/FormationRubric.pdf
Brueggemann, W. (1984). The message of the Psalms: A theological commentary. Augsburg Publishing House.

Week _ Assignment

Course: THEO 201 – Foundations of Spiritual Formation
Upcoming Assessment: Assessment 3: Community Practice and Guided Reflection Journal

Description:
In the following weeks, students will likely be required to participate in a structured spiritual practice within a small group or ministry context and document their experience through a guided reflection journal. This assessment typically focuses on communal aspects of spiritual formation, such as shared prayer, corporate worship, or pastoral care engagement. Students will be expected to connect their lived experience with theological concepts studied earlier in the course, demonstrating growth in both personal and relational spirituality. The task builds directly on the individual formation plan by evaluating how spiritual disciplines function within community life and ministry settings.

Spiritual Formation Assignment: Reflective Essay and Lament Practice Plan