The Lord caused the disaster that the book of Lamentations speaks of. This is according to the Holy Spirit writing through the prophet Jeremiah. What do we do when we are in a time of distress? It is good to wait quietly on the Lord. Sometimes we suffer for our own sins, sometimes we suffer for because of the sin of others. There are times when God judges His people and His servants suffer as well. There are also times when God will use His judgement to get His people to reflect on their own lives. Even if there are difficulties going on in our lives that are not directly a result of sin in our lives, God is sovereignly working His plan for good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.