God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. Psalm 46:1-3.

Happy are the people whose God is the Lord! Psalm 144:15 NKJV.

Our psalm today, Psalm 88, is a song of despair and troubles within so painful they are unrelenting. I am overwhelmed with troubles and my life draws near to death…I am counted among those who go down to the pit; I am like one without strength…I am set apart with the dead, like the slain who lie in the grave, whom you remember no more, who are cut off from your care…You have put me in the lowest pit, in the darkest depths…Your wrath lies heavily on me; you have overwhelmed me with all your waves…Darkness is my closest friend…v. 3-7, 18. This psalm shows us we can bring everything to God – all of us. Even the parts that are so painful we live in despair of ever feeling hope again. The psalmist can’t “pretty up” his pain. Where can he go? Lord, you are the God who saves me; day and night I cry out to you…May my prayer come before you; turn your ear to my cry…I call to you, Lord, every day; I spread out my hands to you…Do you show your wonders to the dead?…Do their spirits rise up and praise you?…Is your love declared in the grave, your faithfulness in Destruction?…Are your wonders known in the place of darkness, or your righteous deeds in the land of oblivion?…But I cry to you for help, Lord; in the morning my prayer comes before you…Why, Lord, do you reject me and hide your face from me?…v. 1, 2, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14. How will we know the answers to his questions? We can go to the psalm of David, Psalm 139:7-12. Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me, even the darkness will not be dark to you; for the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you. And we can pray for those in this pain. Holy Father, Abba, please hold your children that are in pain and despair. Help them to feel not the darkness pressing in, but Your loving arms carrying them through. You are the sight they long for in this awful darkness. You love them, You uphold them, You know, You understand. Please Lord God, please come soon and bring Your healing love to all of Your children for we need You.

If you are in pain and darkness, share that with our Creator God – Father, Son, Spirit. It helps to tell someone who understands. Let His love comfort and protect you. Sometimes we need His arms to carry us. I can’t help but know that one day when we each of us stand before our loving God, that as He holds us we will know and remember the feel of His arms that have supported us even though we did not know. And reach out for help. We were never meant to be alone in our dark struggles. We are meant to be family helping each other. God’s love bringing life with Him and with one another. And be gentle and tender with yourself and with others. Our God is gentle…He is tender…He is strong! Let Him bear you up in His arms of love and give thanks always for He is always here. Always.