When God Seems Silent

Reading: Psalm 88

Devotional: Psalm 88 is perhaps the darkest psalm in the entire Bible—and it ends without resolution. The psalmist cries out from deep despair: "darkness is my closest friend." Unlike other lament psalms that move toward hope, this one remains in the valley. Yet remarkably, it's still a prayer. Even in his deepest darkness, the psalmist continues to address God.

This psalm teaches us that sometimes lament doesn't lead to immediate comfort or answers. Sometimes we must sit in the darkness and continue to cry out to a God who seems silent. The very act of continuing to pray, even when we feel unheard, is itself an act of faith. Psalm 88 gives us permission to have seasons where hope feels impossible, yet we still turn toward God rather than away from Him.

This connects powerfully to the truth we find in Lamentations 3:22-23: "The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end." Even when we can't feel God's presence or see His activity, His unfailing love remains. Like David in Psalm 13, we learn to anchor ourselves not in our emotions or circumstances, but in God's unchanging character.

Reflection Question: How does knowing that Scripture includes such raw, unresolved lament change your expectations about your own difficult seasons?

Action Step: Develop a discipline of "dark night" prayer for seasons when God feels absent. Set a regular time each day to pray even when you don't feel like it or sense God's presence. Follow the psalmist's example by addressing God directly in your darkness rather than withdrawing from Him. Keep a prayer journal during this season, recording your honest cries to God even when He seems silent—this practice itself becomes a form of faith.

Quote: "Sometimes the most spiritual thing you can do is to persist in crying out to a God who seems absent." - Dane Ortlund, Gentle and Lowly