There is no sadder prayer in the Bible than Psalm 88. About one third of the Psalms express lament, but this one stands out. Most laments end with praise or confidence in God. Psalm 88 seems to defy our desire for silver linings and happy endings. Yet the fact that it exists teaches us: it’s ok to not be ok – in the presence of God.

The title of the Psalm tells us that it was written for the worship of the Lord at the Tabernacle (Title; 1 Chron 6). Laments help us to express when we’re not ok, to get a different perspective, and to hold on to hope. Praying and singing them corporately encourages us toward compassion and empathy when others suffer.

The psalmist laments over death. His preoccupation comes through in his constant and creative descriptions of death: the pit, the regions dark and deep, the land of forgetfulness. He goes on to describe his life as marked by weakness (v. 4), incapacity (v. 8-9), and chronic illness (v. 15). He can’t even praise God (v. 10-12). He feels he is facing the pointless end of a pointless life. But it wasn’t pointless in God’s plan – Heman wrote an inspired psalm that has ministered to God’s people for millennia.

The other trouble for the psalmist is that God is good (v. 10-12), but his own life is almost unbearable; God is good, but also seems “unruly.” God works eternal goods – even at the cost of earthly pain.

This is what we see at the Cross: eternal good won for us as Jesus was abandoned by his companions, cut off from God’s hand, and sent down to the pit. In his unruly goodness God flips the question in v. 10 on its head. God did work wonders for the dead. Christ is Risen! So it’s ok to not be ok – in the presence of God.

Taking it Home: How can you incorporate lament into your devotional rhythms?