4  Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, 

I will fear no evil, 

for you are with me; 

your rod and your staff, 

they comfort me. 

 The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Ps 23:4.

Abba,

Our reaction and responses to wrongs, to suffering are muddy.  They come in all shapes, sizes, and combinations.  

But You enter into that muddiness with us.  

These two realities, our suffering and Your presence in the suffering, often feel at contradiction with each other.  Your presence and yet the grief and suffering we are experiencing.  How can You be with us when the pain runs so deep?  When the loneliness hurts so badly?  When the sorrow still cuts so viciously?

And yet it is true.  You enter into all of our suffering with us.  We do not go it alone.  And because You are a Man of Sorrows, acquainted with grief (Isaiah 53:3), you are uniquely qualified to wipe away every tear from our eyes.  You are uniquely qualified to provide comfort in our suffering.