This morning, we’re going to be looking at Psalm 88 and considering the concept of a “Prayer of Desperation.” This psalm is considered a psalm of lament. One of the most notable authors on this subject is Mark Vroegop. He explains that: “Lament is a prayer in pain that leads to trust. It is not only how Christians grieve; it’s the way Christians praise God through their sorrows. Lament is a pathway to praise when life gets hard.” Most laments have at least a glimmer of hope in them. They will often close with some sort of positive thought or encouragement. Psalm 88 is distinct from the rest of the psalms of lament, as it contains no explicit statement of confidence. With that in mind, let’s look at this psalm of lament in Psalm 88, and listen for the desperation that we hear in the voice of the psalmist.