A Fire Breaks Out

Meaning in Psalm 88

by Alfred D. Byrd

FACING a time of troubles, we find
A way to God that runs through darkness.
Nothing at all seems certain to us
While we look at death and live in fear.
A flood, it may be, has wrecked our homes
And left us feeling useless and old.
A fire breaks out, burning possessions.
Illness may rob us of youth and strength
And change us so much in eyes of friends
That they see no more what joys they knew—
They see a stranger, withered and weak.
How many the ways for good to go,
And evil — heartbreak — to come and stay.

Amid our pain, we feel rejected,
Looking around for the love of God.
We wonder whether our God has changed
A face of love for a face of wrath.
What wrong of ours has earned a judgment
Turning our hopes to dust and ashes?
"Surely," we say, "our God forgets us."
Empty, our days, and endless our nights,
November's dimness, bringing winter.
Sorrow will form the limits of life
Unless we look beyond our sight.

It's easy, in times of peace, to say,
"We'll meet in heaven and live in joy."
It's hard, in times of grief, not to think,
"What fools we were to believe in hope!"
Our eyes of flesh can't see the wonders
Witnessed by those who've gone to the grave.
Our ears of flesh can't hear thanksgiving
Offered to God by friends of our youth.
It's faith, not sight, that lets us proclaim,
"Our God is righteous, faithful to give
The gift of mercy to all who come,
Forsaking despair, to claim the joy
Of knowing the God Who knows our hearts."

Our God, we call from a world at war
To You, Who sit at peace on the Throne.
Remember our life, a work of Yours—
A work gone wrong, in need of Your aid.
We look for light in times of darkness;
Only in You can we find the light.
All things apart from You will perish;
Only what comes to You will abide.
Remind us, our God, of who You are,
And say, when we doubt, "I'm here with you,
And you will return at last to Me;
You'll see My face and live on with love."
Remind us, our God, to show Your love
As we live with those who need our help.

If this poem spoke to you, you may enjoy my Biblical epic poems

A Song of the One, the age-old account of Creatlon, Fall, Redemption, and Glory retold in verse for a new millennium, and

The Stars Bow Down: An Epic of Joseph, the timeless tale of a favorite son whose brothers sold him into slavery, but whom God raised from a prison to save the known world from famine.