(3) Is There a Cure for Extreme Misery?

If you are looking for a religion that makes you happy all the time Christianity isn't your answer. In fact, no faith or philosophy can immunize you from all of the miseries of this present life. Because of sin we are born for trouble (Job 5:7)

At least the biblical faith is honest about this. Only the Bible acknowledges the extremity of the troubled human condition and promises a full cure in due time. Life is hard—the Christian life is hard. But the faithful never need to be without hope. Psalm 38 describes a perfect-storm scenario. David was apparently deathly ill, attacked by enemies, troubled by his own guilt, and being disciplined by God. His troubles are spiritual, physical, and relational. Paul's phrase summarizes David's situation: He faced "fighting without and fear within" (2 Cor. 7:5).

You and I need this divinely inspired poetry because our lives are not substantially different. Sometimes we feel like everything has gone wrong. What can we do then? Let's learn from David to tell God our trouble, and seek his help.