Becoming Ruth or the Lamenting Psalmist: Finding Hope in Pain

Abstract

The need for trauma healing has significantly increased in recent years, and new innovative and cost-effective ways must be found to help sufferers, particularly those in economically challenged areas. In this study, literature trauma  theory is applied, using the biblical story of Ruth  and some lament psalms, to help sufferers find a measure of healing.  It was found that engaging with the emotions  experienced by the characters in the biblical text enabled  sufferers to  express their own pain and to identify with the  way God interacted with the biblical characters. The approach  also  provided a creative interaction with the text which  participants enjoyed. In these days of increasing emotional  challenge, it is a means worth exploring in various contexts  while using relevant biblical texts.