When most people think of the Psalms, they imagine uplifting poetry and heartfelt praise—but Tim Keller urges us to look deeper, even into the shadows. In one of his most soul-stirring sermons, Keller unpacks Psalm 88, often called the darkest chapter in the Bible, to show how even despair can be sacred ground. Unlike other psalms, this one ends not with hope, but with the haunting line: “Darkness is my closest friend.”
Why would God include a prayer like that in Scripture? What does it mean for those walking through suffering, grief, or spiritual silence? In classic Keller fashion, he draws out 6 life-changing lessons that reframe how we view pain—not as punishment, but as preparation.
Here’s what Tim Keller says Psalm 88 teaches every believer about the reality of suffering, the mercy of God, and how even silence can be sacred.
Lessons from Psalm 88
1. Where Faith Hits a Valley
In Psalm 88, the psalmist prays from the very bottom, crying out to God with anguish that feels eternal. Not just circumstances—he senses God’s absence inwardly. Yet he calls on the God who saves. Despite the pain, he remains a believer. Keller reminds us: Believing Christians can stay in darkness for a long time—and still be faithful.
2. The Bible Doesn’t Sugarcoat Reality
Tim Keller likens this Psalm to The Princess Bride’s line: “Life is pain, any they who say differently are selling something.” Christianity isn’t a happy promise that suffering stops. Jesus warned His followers—we will have trouble. This Psalm is mercy in realism—it resets dangerous expectations.
RELATED: Psalm 73: “Until I Entered the Sanctuary
3. Darkness Is Where Grace Learns Its Strength
In suffering, the psalmist prays abrasive, frustrated words—sarcastic pleas, rhetorical questions, even apparent blasphemy. Yet this raw honesty is preserved in Scripture. Keller cites Derek Kidner: “The presence of these prayers in Scripture is witness to God’s understanding.” God accepts prayers even when they are imperfect, because He is gracious.
4. Suffering Shapes Greatness, Not Weakness
Keller draws on the book of Job: Satan accused Job of being transactional—loving God only because He blessed him. Yet Job remained with God through suffering. At the end, God says Job honored Him. Sincere persistence in darkness leads to transformation.
Keller also quotes Lord of the Rings: Sam, hopeless on the trail to Mount Doom, instead becomes “creature of stone and steel”—resilient through trials. So can we.
Tim Keller has more to say about Psalm 88 on Page Two . . .
