Chronic pain is one of the most emotionally and physically exhausting things we can face. Chronic pain means that each and every day, in our waking and our sleeping, and absolutely everything in between, there is pain. Not only does the presence of pain drag on you, it is the absolutely constant-ness of the affliction that is most exhausting. To never see relief from something zaps our energy, strength and resolve, dragging us down even further into the pits of despair.
Sin, sorrow, grief, hopelessness are all like chronic pain; they not only drag us down with their presence, it is their ever-present nature which destroys our resources. The psalmist knew this kind of unending, relentless pain, that place where utter despair and hopelessness rule unceasingly.
Only in finding ourselves in this rock-bottom place can we truly experience the salvation of hope, the mere glimmer of peace and restfulness that only comes through God. Although we do not wish this rock-bottom experience on anyone, we know that the true gift of grace comes only in knowing what lurks without God; without grace; without peace.
Lord, bring us through the valleys of our despair. Help us to find you in our moments and days of unending pain, sorrow, grief and affliction. Help us to see the true miracle of your presence. Amen. — KNM