The lively, laughing children were enjoying a dance workshop in Southport, northern England, during their holidays. Suddenly a man appeared, wielding a knife. Cruelly, he murdered three precious little girls, utterly broke their loving families and horrified a peaceful community. Stunned, the watching nation couldn’t process such senseless devastation.
A church leader promised that the church was “part of that community, that experience”, adding, “The most important message is that we are there with you and for you. I don’t think any words are going to make sense of the situation.”
There is no sense in grief. God never designed us to say “goodbye”—to loved ones, relationships, health. The psalmist described his own excruciating grief as “the darkest depths” (Psalm 88:6). Crying out to God in confusion, he went further: “You have put me in the lowest pit.” There was no way forward, no answer, no quick fix, no cure. “I am confined and cannot escape; my eyes are dim with grief” (vv. 8-9).
In the senselessness of his grief, the psalmist receives no answer. But he does set a great example: “I call to you, Lord, every day; I spread out my hands to you” (v. 9). In our grief, may we learn to journey every day with our Father, spreading our hands out to Him. No words will make sense of our situation, but His presence will hold us, even in our unspeakable pain.
By Chris Wale
REFLECT & PRAY
When have you felt like the psalmist in Psalm 88? How might the practice of spreading your hands out before God each day help you to live through pain-filled days?
Heavenly Father, please comfort me in my heartache and loss. Draw especially close, just as You promise to, when life doesn’t make any sense.
Psalm 88 is an unusual song of lament. Lament psalms typically include a call for God’s help, a specific complaint or reason for lamenting, and an expression of trust in God. Some also offer thanksgiving after He responds. (Psalm 44 is a lament psalm that contains all these elements.) Psalm 88 includes the call for God’s aid (vv. 1-2) and reasons for lament ( vv. 3-9, 15-18) but omits any expressions of trust in God. Instead, the psalmist asks accusatory questions (vv. 10-12, 14) and describes being completely alone and in excruciating pain (v. 18). That this psalm is part of inspired Scripture demonstrates that God welcomes complete honesty before Him when we’re struggling. In our pain, we can be assured that He’s there and He’s listening.
Monica La Rose
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