Tips and Advice from Experts on Sadness

20 Daily Psalms of Lament by Dr. M. Elizabeth Lewis Hall, Dr. Kelly M. Kapic, and Dr. Jason McMartin Seasons of suffering can leave us without words, feeling alone, unheard, or far from God. This growth path will guide you through 20 days of praying the psalms of lament, the ancient prayers that give voice to grief, fear, anger, and longing while turning toward God for comfort and hope. This Growth Path is adapted, with special permission of the authors, from 20 Daily Psalms of Lament by Dr. M. Elizabeth Lewis Hall, Dr. Kelly M. Kapic, and Dr. Jason McMartin. Together, they bring decades of scholarship on suffering, spiritual formation, and the integration of psychology and Christian theology. Dr. Elizabeth Lewis Hall is a Professor at Rosemead School of Psychology, Biola University. She has written on suffering through psychology and Christian theology for 20 years and has published over 100 academic articles and book chapters. Dr. Kelly M. Kapic is a Professor of Theological Studies at Covenant College. He has written or edited over fifteen books, including the award-winning Embodied Hope: A Theological Meditation on Pain and Suffering. Dr. Jason McMartin is a Professor of Theology at Biola University, with a joint appointment at Rosemead School of Psychology and Talbot School of Theology. He has co-authored research on the role of suffering within the flourishing life and has served as a pastor and urban missionary. Each day of this path opens with a moment of stillness and deep breathing, followed by a psalm of lament to read and pray slowly. Guided reflection questions then help you bring your own experiences to the psalm: naming your pain honestly, remembering God’s past faithfulness, asking for help, and finding room for hope, even when hope feels hard. After each day’s reflection, you are invited to share your thoughts and prayers with the 7 Cups community, where others walking through their own seasons of lament can listen, encourage, and reflect alongside you. You don’t have to carry your sorrow alone. 20 Days with Jesus in His Suffering by Dr. M. Elizabeth Lewis Hall, Dr. Jason McMartin, and Dr. Lisa Igram When we are suffering, it can be hard to believe that anyone truly understands, including God. This growth path invites you to spend 20 days walking with Jesus through his own suffering, using prayerful imagination to see your suffering in his and his suffering in yours. This Growth Path is adapted, with special permission of the authors, from 20 Days with Jesus in His Suffering by Dr. M. Elizabeth Lewis Hall, Dr. Jason McMartin, and Dr. Lisa Igram. Together, they bring decades of scholarship on suffering, spiritual formation, and the integration of psychology and Christian theology. Dr. Elizabeth Lewis Hall is a Professor at Rosemead School of Psychology, Biola University. She has written on suffering through psychology and Christian theology for 20 years and has published over 100 academic articles and book chapters. Dr. Jason McMartin is a Professor of Theology at Biola University, with a joint appointment at Rosemead School of Psychology and Talbot School of Theology. He has co-authored research on the role of suffering within the flourishing life and has served as a pastor and urban missionary. Dr. Lisa Igram is an Assistant Professor at Rosemead School of Psychology, Biola University, where she teaches Scripture interpretation, spiritual theology, and the integration of psychology and Christian thought. She brings over twenty years of experience in Christian higher education, leading spiritual formation and student wellbeing initiatives. Each day of this path opens with a moment of stillness and a short prayer, followed by a Gospel passage to read slowly twice. Guided prompts help you imagine yourself in the scene: what you see, hear, and feel as Jesus grieves, is betrayed, is abandoned, and suffers on the cross. You’ll then reflect on how his experiences connect with your own. After each day’s reflection, you are invited to share your thoughts and prayers with the 7 Cups community, where others can listen, encourage, and reflect alongside you. You are not alone in your suffering, and neither was he.