How can we find hope when feeling overwhelmed like in Psalm 88:7? Setting the Scene Psalm 88:7 lays bare the psalmist’s pain: “Your wrath lies heavily upon me; You have overwhelmed me with all Your waves.” The inspired words capture the feeling of spiritual drowning. Because every word of Scripture is true and trustworthy, this verse gives voice to real anguish while also guiding us toward solid hope. Facing the Depths Honestly • God preserved Psalm 88 so believers would know that seasons of distress are neither unusual nor faith-destroying. • Scripture records the psalmist’s raw lament, affirming that believers may speak candidly to God without fear of rejection (cf. Psalm 62:8). • Admitting the depth of our struggle is the first step toward receiving God’s comfort. Remember Whose Waves They Are • Even as the psalmist feels overwhelmed, he acknowledges that the waves belong to God: “Your waves.” • If the waves are His, then they are under His absolute control (Psalm 93:3-4). • Knowing the sovereign Source turns chaos into a tool for refining faith (Romans 8:28). Anchoring Hope in Promises 1. God’s presence remains in the flood – Isaiah 43:2: “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you.” 2. Christ carries the weary – Matthew 11:28-29: “Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” 3. Nothing can separate us from His love – Romans 8:38-39 lists every conceivable threat, then declares none of them succeeds. 4. Our trials are momentary in light of eternity – 2 Corinthians 4:17: “Our light and momentary affliction is producing for us an eternal glory.” 5. Hope is an anchor, sure and steadfast – Hebrews 6:19: “We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.” Practical Steps to Breathe Hope • Speak Scripture aloud daily; let truth drown out despair (Psalm 42:5). • Recall specific past deliverances; testimony fuels present faith (1 Samuel 7:12). • Join with believers who will “bear one another’s burdens” (Galatians 6:2). • Record God’s promises and answered prayers in a journal to create a visible timeline of His faithfulness. • Set aside regular times for worship; praising God redirects the heart from waves to the Wave-Calmer (Acts 16:25). Closing Thoughts Psalm 88 ends without explicit resolution, reminding us that hope is often an act of faith before it becomes a feeling. Yet the broader witness of Scripture assures that God’s waves never intend to drown His children; they wash, shape, and ultimately lift us toward Himself. In the very place where the psalmist felt submerged, the steadfast love of the Lord breaks through, proving again that His faithfulness reaches to the skies (Psalm 36:5). |
    |