Sitting in my hospital room, battling Leukaemia with a husband suffering dementia, who totally was relying on me and having a 95 years old mother whom I have not dared to tell my sickness, confused about the timing of God, I listened to Psalm 88 wondering whether I have faith at all. In these situations, doubts do arise, as I ask God, why me? And then ask myself why not you? Why should it be "others" and not you? One thing that lifted me up is tell God that I am afraid and somehow when I was reading through Jeremiah, the answer I God is "fear not, but trust me"! That does not mean thoughts of doubts do not come from time to time, but knowing God is in control brings a lot of comfort.

Dr. Ortlund thank you so much for uploading this video today. I cannot express how grateful I am for this video as I have just recently been dealing with an extremely anxious and difficult personal situation. This video has really reminded me that it is okay to grieve and cry, and that ultimately I can have hope in Jesus who bares my suffering with me with compassion, empathy and love. God bless you! And keep up the good work!

I was brought to tears towards the end of how the description of Aslan describes how amazing a King we have in Jesus, both a powerful ruler and a shepherd . Thank you Gavin for your encouragement and reminder.

Dr. Ortlund.... appreciate your pastor's heart of compassion and your handling of scripture. The Lord bless you and your ministries.

I was so moved at seeing your pastor's heart. Bless you my brother.

Wow.. blessed from this.

Dr Ortlund this was a wonderful sermon delivered with sensitivity. The emotions that sprang up from deep within you certainly called forth a similar response from me. Indeed the Psalmist spoke the truth : some suffering seems worse than death - it seems a living death. I love how you brought it back to what Christ suffered on the cross out of inestimable compassion. It reminded me of a striking passage from Romano Guardini's "The Lord" : The plunge from God towards the void which man in his revolt had begun (chute in which the creature can only despair or break) Christ undertook in love. Knowingly, voluntarily, he experienced it with the sensitiveness of his divinely human heart. The greater the victim, the more terrible the blow that fells him. No one ever died as Jesus died, who was life itself. No one was ever punished for sin as he was, the Sinless One. No one ever experienced the plunge down the vacuum of evil as did God’s Son - even to the excruciating agony behind the words: “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me” (Matt. 27:46). Jesus was really destroyed. Cut off in the flower of his age; his work stifled just when it should have taken root; his friends scattered, his honor broken. He no longer had anything, was anything: “a worm and not a man?” In inconceivable pain “he descended into hell,” realm in which evil reigns, and not only as the victorious breaker of its chains. This came later; first he had to touch the nadir of a personally experienced agony such as no man has ever dreamed. There the endlessly Beloved One of the eternal Father brushed the bottom of the pit. He penetrated to the absolute nothingness from which the “re-creation” of those already created (but falling from the source of true life towards that nothingness) was to emerge : the new heaven and the new earth. -Romano Guardini, The Lord

Magnificent! Never heard a better sermon on grief. Will come back to this again

I needed to hear this today, I have been going through such a season of darkness. Of feeling alone and alienated from everything and everyone. I was trying to meditate on the psalms as I was going through them and they reminded me of the story of Elijah. When he wanted to die, to have nothing to do with this life anymore put of fear and anguish, God sent an angel to feed him and watch over him while he rested. I am afraid, and anxious and feeling so alone, yet God is with me, He gave me life and eternal hope. How good it is to remember that our savior was in anguish when he faced His death. Hoping that good would spare Him. How good is it to remember that God spared us the rod and give us consolation when we are in darkness.

Thank you Gavin this message has been a blessing to me. God bless you.

I have a couple of men that I am working with that are struggling with suffering. The Church world is full of one word answers or you dont have enough faith. Thank you.

Wow a great preacher too!!

Wonderful sermon Gavin.

When I was reading Psalms 88 just the other day, I was thinking it was about the Lord Jesus.

A word on your teaching, Pastor Ortlund. It is wonderful to see such heartfelt earnestness, w/out shouting and showmanship. I've been so blessed and a little strengthened as well. "I feel like I'm getting buried alive...my heart is beating but I feel like I'm sinking down into death". Yes, unfortunately, that's it that's all.

Yes! I am so pleased you are sharing your sermon...even before I have listened

Wow! Powerful message. Thanks so much Dr. Ortland. Godspeed

Wow that was beautiful! 😭 Thank you!

Wow thank you Dr. Ortlund for sharing this message!🙏❤️

Thank you for this sermon.

Thank you for this message brother!

I needed to hear this many years ago, and doubtless will need it again. Thank you for something to hold onto.

Beautiful. Glory to God.

Dr Ortlund thank you so much for all you do on this channel. You have helped keep my faith wagon out of the theological ditches far more than you’ll ever know! Your content has helped me to see the error in so many different arguments that I had fallen for. If it be the Lord’s will, could you consider a talk on Preterism. I am overcome with concern on how to interpret most of Jesus’s own predictions and then those of Paul and Peter as well. It seems to me at this time, that at least partial preterism is the most logical and sensible lens to interpret NT “new heavens and new earth” and the Apostle John’s “at hand”, “a little while” and “coming soon” statements. If so, then what are we told in Scripture about the ending of our Church Age? Which parts of Scripture are still future? Prayerfully consider this topic if you ever have time and the Lord prompts you to. Already, you have blessed me and my walk with Jesus beyond anything I could ever repay! God bless you, your family and your church.

Gavin do you have a link to the sermon you mentioned in your vid about Communion a few months back? You mentioned you'd been teaching on it and after buying Thomas Watson's super-helpful book, I'd love to hear more.

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Psalm 88 is the first true country song.

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Gavin where can I watch more of your sermons

I relate to this psalm so much. I very much am ready to die and be w/ the Lord. My faith is not at all shattered, but I do need a miracle. I really need a touch and word from the Lord. Ongoing infidelity is a crushing blow to the spirit. There is no hope for the relationship. A chance has already been given. Pray for me to have renewed hope and strength. God bless, all who read.

Honestly this isn't the way I would've done this passage but it is likely a better way for the flock God has allowed him to lead. As I've been there I would've pointed it to the cure much quicker and you can be in the light because He went through this.

Tbh, I think we as a people would have a hard time being as good a friend as Job's friends. They at least were silent and commiserating with him for a week.

Amen. Thank you.

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