00:04If you've lived enough life, you've probably learned, there is struggling and then there
00:10is suffering. When you're struggling, there's still a sense of control like you can make
00:15it if you just persevere long enough. But when you're suffering, it feels like everything
00:20is closing in on you like there's nothing left to hold on to. One of the worst things
00:26about suffering is that it is inherently indescribable. The fact that you can't make sense of it
00:32makes it that much worse. It feels like no one can relate to your experience. Because
00:38of that, even well-meant encouragements can end up pouring salt in your wounds. Suffering
00:44can also make the narratives of your faith feel hollow. You were told that God had good
00:49plans for your life, that he would make you prosper and give you joy, so how could he
00:55let that happen? Or worse, why does he let it keep happening? One such narrative is found
01:01in the Psalms. You might notice how, even when David exclaims that God has deserted him, his
01:08Psalms always return to one idea, God is faithful, so I will praise him. But did you know there's
01:15a Psalm that doesn't end that way? It's Psalm 88. In fact, the only mention of God's faithfulness
01:22is the author wondering how it could possibly reach him amid all of his suffering. And that's
01:28important, because it shows that God knows there are times when falling back on our usual narratives
01:33won't help us. Sometimes all we can pray is, Lord, help me, it hurts too much. Sometimes in life,
01:41there are few things that can comfort us. But one comfort is knowing we can pray with Jesus,
01:47Father, if it's possible, remove this cup from me. He's been there. He knows what it's like.
01:54Perhaps another comfort is what we said on day one, that God was faithful to Israel even when
02:01they failed to be faithful in return. So if God protected his people even when they repeatedly
02:07turned their backs on him, how much more will he be faithful to you when you are fighting to hold
02:12on to what's good? Maybe we can leave our pain, our faith, and our frustrations in God's care and
02:19take rest until he guides us to where we need to be. With God's help, we can find faith in
02:25our
02:25struggles. Reflection. What's something in your life that feels irreparably broken right now?
02:31Maybe you've lost a friendship or were rocked by a scandal in your community. Maybe just looking at
02:38the headlines is enough to make you never want to get out of bed. How can you invite God to
02:44come sit
02:44in that pain with you?
