If your church uses the Encounter, you have studied through the Psalms this summer. The last two lessons are about “lamenting.” We live in a culture that doesn’t accept grief or pain very well. We avoid it at all costs and when we inevitably encounter it, we are shocked. The United States consumed a large amount of depression and anxiety medicine before the pandemic, but during the pandemic, the refill rates soared over 30% more than rates in 2018. The highest gain was in youth ages 12-17.  There is a role for medicine in our lives, but the best medicine is often accompanied by healthy practices. Think about diabetes. Insulin is needed, but my doctor said I had to exercise and watch what I eat for the medicine to do its job. 

Jewish and Christian traditions and practices offer us a way of dealing with pain, despair, and disappointment. It is called lament.  A lament is a form of prayer and meditation by which we communion with God in a divine conversation of all our grief and sorrows. In lament, we bear our soul to God and there we find God inviting us to think about our burdens with God and through the lens of our Divine Parent.  In short, lament turns us toward God, while sorrow and unattended pain may cause us to run from God.   Ultimately, it is a way we learn to trust God in all situations, even those we struggle to see the presence of God. Here is a link I have found helpful:

Lament Toolkit: Understanding and Practicing Biblical Lament | Faithward.org