Overwhelmed With Troubles (Psalm 88:1-5)

¹ Lord, you are the God who saves me;
day and night I cry out to you.
² May my prayer come before you;
turn your ear to my cry.

³ I am overwhelmed with troubles
and my life draws near to death.
⁴ I am counted among those who go down to the pit;
I am like one without strength.
⁵ I am set apart with the dead,
like the slain who lie in the grave,
whom you remember no more,
who are cut off from your care.

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This is a desperate prayer for help from a desperate person.  The psalmist feels that death is near, and he is practically in the grave, cut off from life, and seemingly cut off from God.

In meditating on these words today, I was drawn to praying for some people I know who are facing tremendous struggles against cancer.  This psalm led me to pray for them and for the Lord’s work in their live, that He would turn His ear to them and give healing and strength.

I would encourage you in your prayers today to pray similarly.  Of course let your prayers go wherever this text leads, but I encourage prayers for those facing dread illness and life-threatening cancer.  Unfortunately I believe that it is safe to say that people in such circumstances are known to us all.

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