Day 16: Psalm 88 - When Darkness Feels Closest
Take a moment to close your eyes and take a few deep breaths. Then open your eyes and slowly read and pray today's psalm in the image above.
This psalm is unique among the laments. Unlike every other one, it never turns toward hope or renewal. It ends with darkness (18) rather than promise and light. The psalmist speaks of feeling rejected by God (14), of suffering and despair (15), and of feeling that God himself put him in the lowest pit (6).
If the Bible includes a lament that never turns to the light, you can allow yourself to pray this way too. If your suffering has you feeling only darkness, express that to God without adding positive clichés that don't truly comfort you.
Slowly pray the words of Psalm 88 again. Whether its darkness makes you uncomfortable or comforts you, consider how its presence in Israel's prayerbook might shape your own prayers in times of suffering.
If you are having thoughts of harming yourself, please reach out to your local emergency services or a crisis line right away. You can also find support resources on 7 Cups.
Reflection Questions
Personal reflection:
Do you feel overwhelmed with troubles, as if you keep begging God for his attention (2, 9, 13)? If you feel frustrated that God isn't noticing your prayers, allow yourself to freely express that.
Community discussion:
Psalm 88 is the only lament that never offers an explicit word of comfort. What might its presence in the Bible tell us about God's willingness to receive our honest struggles, even when we have nothing positive to say?