The Comfort of the Psalms in the Battles of LifeNäide

Finding light in the darkness

“My soul is full of troubles, and my life draws near to Sheol.” (Psalm 88:2)

Psalm 88 is the darkest psalm of all. It even ends in darkness. Yet there is a glimmer of light, right at the beginning. It starts with “Lord, God of my salvation”. This long lament is not from someone who has parted ways with God. This is someone who cries out to God because he has no one else to go to.

The author of the psalm says: I am sick. I am depressed. One misfortune after another befalls me. I don't know where to turn. I am desperate. But I still hold on with one finger to the edge of the abyss, and this one finger is this: You are the God of my salvation.

However dark it is, God will show Himself to be the God of salvation.

Therefore: “Day and night I come before You and cry out.” I am broken, and I can't find the right words, but I keep praying to You. Prayer is nothing to be ashamed of, so pray like Daniel before the open window. Prayer never has to cease, so pray and wrestle like Jacob at the Jabbok River until it becomes light again.

Let’s return to that glimmer of light at the beginning of the psalm: “Lord, God of my salvation.” In Hebrew it says: “God of my Yeshua.” Yes, that is the name of Jesus. “God of my Jesus.” My salvation is my Jesus. Jesus went through the deepest darkness. Jesus could pray this psalm like no one before or after Him. Jesus prays with and for us. Jesus is our salvation.