There is a game called Limbo that I used to play - years ago. The player bends over backwards and shuffles under a horizontal bar without knocking it off the supports. After each successful pass, the bar is lowered a notch and the player tries to pass under again - leaning backwards even further this pass. As the player ‘limbos’, participants yell: "How low can ya go?" Great question for the Limbo game but our life is not a game. In reality, ‘how low can you go?" takes on new meaning and often leaves us in a dark place.
Terminal illness, addictions, divorces, loneliness, imprisonment, homelessness, abandonment, etc. are dark places. If you are suffering from one of these or are in another similar situation, you do not have to suffer alone. There is a light that you can go to and leave that dark place. All of us - as the psalmist did - can "let it all out" to God. Our situations never surprise God and are never too big for Him to handle.
When you read and meditate on these verses, KNOW that during dark times is when God often chooses to heal. God did it for me. I stand as His witness. Years ago, I was unlovable, undependable, uncaring, and depressed. I was ashamed of what my life had become. My friends and family tried to help me. I refused their help and I sunk lower. How could I lay out my dark issues to a holy God? I had truly hit bottom.
Was I a Christian during this period? Yes, yes I was. Was I crying out to God to help me? No, no I wasn’t. I finally went and talked with a stranger - it would be easier that way I thought. During the course of our conversation, I mentioned Jesus. The counselor stopped me mid-sentence and said, "We don’t specifically mention deities here. You may refer to a ‘god’ as your ‘higher power’ but to specifically discuss Jesus in these sessions is not acceptable."
It was as if the big holy light bulb went off in my brain! Throughout my dark period I had not asked God for His help and comfort because I was ashamed to. But here, in the presence of a total stranger, God chose to speak and let me know He was there for me - even though I had chosen not to come to Him first. I praise God every day for delivering me - there in the office of a stranger. I praise God for pulling me out of my dark place. I look back now and wonder how I ever got that low. I had bottomed out and the darkness was so thick I could not see any way out. Are you there now?
No one is immune to dark periods. The psalmist of Psalm 88 is Heman, a son of Korah. Heman is mentioned in 1 Chronicles as one of the musicians in King David’s court. As a musician, Heman used his gifts in the worship services of the Lord! What a blessing! Heman was intimately familiar with the praise songs sung to God. Heman was an integral part! One would think that Heman, due to his closeness to God, would have never despaired because he knew of the hope of God’s promises. But in Psalm 88, we hear Heman’s cries. Imagine - if one close to God can despair how much darker the despair when one does not know God. We all need God. God knows the depth of your loneliness. God knows the despair and feeling of hopelessness that can come with critical illness. God knows the abandonment a child feels when their parents are divorced. God understands the misery associated with personal failures. God realizes how difficult it is during those teenage years! God understands what it feels like to be without a home. Jesus had no place to lay His head.
My friends, things of this world will fade away - possessions, money, friends, jobs, etc. But, eternal things never fade away. Take heart - God knows your name. The God of the universe hears you no matter where you are - even in the dark. God even knows the number of hairs on your head. All of the events of your life were written in His book before you were even born. Call out to Him. If you take that first step towards Him, He will run to you! You never, ever need to be alone again - anywhere or anytime. When you feel that darkness covers you and even the day has become night remember that the darkest dark is never dark to God. All things are as light to Him. He is the way, the life, the light, and the truth. Come into His light and never be alone again! Leave that dark place now and let His light shine on and in you.
Papa Joe Mac's Commentary:
There is a game called Limbo that I used to play - years ago. The player bends over backwards and shuffles under a horizontal bar without knocking it off the supports. After each successful pass, the bar is lowered a notch and the player tries to pass under again - leaning backwards even further this pass. As the player ‘limbos’, participants yell: "How low can ya go?" Great question for the Limbo game but our life is not a game. In reality, ‘how low can you go?" takes on new meaning and often leaves us in a dark place.
Terminal illness, addictions, divorces, loneliness, imprisonment, homelessness, abandonment, etc. are dark places. If you are suffering from one of these or are in another similar situation, you do not have to suffer alone. There is a light that you can go to and leave that dark place. All of us - as the psalmist did - can "let it all out" to God. Our situations never surprise God and are never too big for Him to handle.
When you read and meditate on these verses, KNOW that during dark times is when God often chooses to heal. God did it for me. I stand as His witness. Years ago, I was unlovable, undependable, uncaring, and depressed. I was ashamed of what my life had become. My friends and family tried to help me. I refused their help and I sunk lower. How could I lay out my dark issues to a holy God? I had truly hit bottom.
Was I a Christian during this period? Yes, yes I was. Was I crying out to God to help me? No, no I wasn’t. I finally went and talked with a stranger - it would be easier that way I thought. During the course of our conversation, I mentioned Jesus. The counselor stopped me mid-sentence and said, "We don’t specifically mention deities here. You may refer to a ‘god’ as your ‘higher power’ but to specifically discuss Jesus in these sessions is not acceptable."
It was as if the big holy light bulb went off in my brain! Throughout my dark period I had not asked God for His help and comfort because I was ashamed to. But here, in the presence of a total stranger, God chose to speak and let me know He was there for me - even though I had chosen not to come to Him first. I praise God every day for delivering me - there in the office of a stranger. I praise God for pulling me out of my dark place. I look back now and wonder how I ever got that low. I had bottomed out and the darkness was so thick I could not see any way out. Are you there now?
No one is immune to dark periods. The psalmist of Psalm 88 is Heman, a son of Korah. Heman is mentioned in 1 Chronicles as one of the musicians in King David’s court. As a musician, Heman used his gifts in the worship services of the Lord! What a blessing! Heman was intimately familiar with the praise songs sung to God. Heman was an integral part! One would think that Heman, due to his closeness to God, would have never despaired because he knew of the hope of God’s promises. But in Psalm 88, we hear Heman’s cries. Imagine - if one close to God can despair how much darker the despair when one does not know God. We all need God. God knows the depth of your loneliness. God knows the despair and feeling of hopelessness that can come with critical illness. God knows the abandonment a child feels when their parents are divorced. God understands the misery associated with personal failures. God realizes how difficult it is during those teenage years! God understands what it feels like to be without a home. Jesus had no place to lay His head.
My friends, things of this world will fade away - possessions, money, friends, jobs, etc. But, eternal things never fade away. Take heart - God knows your name. The God of the universe hears you no matter where you are - even in the dark. God even knows the number of hairs on your head. All of the events of your life were written in His book before you were even born. Call out to Him. If you take that first step towards Him, He will run to you! You never, ever need to be alone again - anywhere or anytime. When you feel that darkness covers you and even the day has become night remember that the darkest dark is never dark to God. All things are as light to Him. He is the way, the life, the light, and the truth. Come into His light and never be alone again! Leave that dark place now and let His light shine on and in you.