In his letter to the Philippian church, the Apostle Paul wrote, “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” (Phil 1:21)
Good morning! Today, we delve into Psalms 85-88. Because of a slight miscount on my part, today’s reading is lighter than usual, but this message won’t be.
As I prepared, I faced a dilemma: considering the ongoing troubles in our world, and my frequent emphasis on them, should I offer a message of unwavering hope and renewal? Psalm 85, after all, centers on a fervent plea for revival and expecting God’s peace. Aren’t Christians supposed to share that?
I could have focused on Psalm 86, a humble prayer teaching submission to God and the confidence it brings in His deliverance—a profoundly “Christian” message.
Or perhaps Psalm 87, where the Sons of Korah highlight the glory of Zion, extending the welcoming embrace to Gentiles and sinners alike—surely the right topic of encouragement.
Then I read Psalm 88. Most scholars agree it stands as the darkest lament in the entire Bible. Who needs that kind of message?
We all do.
A Pastor’s Burden
Nearly 80% of pastors leave the ministry within five years of seminary, with very few making it all the way to retirement. While I am not a pastor, I can attest to the profound challenges of ministry. We are called to bring hope, often when we ourselves are struggling to find it. We see immense suffering and must help people understand the senseless.
Our families often live under a constant microscope, and we know they bear the weight of our vocational choice. We desire to make others happy, yet our primary responsibility is to God, which sometimes creates a deep conflict of interest.
I share this not to elicit sympathy for pastors, though they deserve it. I wrote about Psalm 88 because I believe it’s in the biblical canon for a reason. Even God accepts that sadness is a valid human emotion.
There will be times when we all hurt. Experiencing the “blues” doesn’t signify a failing in your Christian walk or make you less Christ-like.
Even if the world expects you to be a “rare hare of hope” from the moment you wake, God understands there are seasons when you cannot be. This doesn’t mean you’ve lost faith in the outcome; it means that while you may be a man or woman of God, you are still human.
Even Jesus, in His agonizing humanity, cried out from the cross, “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46; Mark 15:34, NIV). This echoes the profound lament found in Psalm 22.
Hello Darkness My Old Friend
They attribute Psalm 88 to Heman the Ezrahite, one of the three principal musicians whom King David appointed to serve in the temple. It is the only psalm attributed to him, making him, in a sense, the “George Harrison” of the Levites—a solitary, yet significant voice.
In verse 1, Heman confesses his faith in God, yet admits that he cries out to Him day and night. You can hear his sheer desperation. Like us, he grapples with the agonizing question of whether God even hears his prayers (Psalm 88:2).
We all experience those seasons when troubles cascade upon us, one after another (Psalm 88:3). It’s tempting to stay in bed, pulling the covers over our heads. Even daily tasks, like checking the mailbox, become an exercise in futility, or worse, terrifying. You wonder if you can withstand one more piece of bad news (Psalm 88:6).
Before my layoff, I considered whether death would be preferable. My company carried a sizable life insurance policy on me. It is a blessing that such an option is no longer there; I have no illusion that I could ensure my family’s care by succumbing to my troubles.
The temptation to harm oneself is a battle that 20% of pastors admit to fighting. The Barna Group reported that 59% of pastors experienced depression in 2020.
We turn to God, but sometimes it feels as though He is not answering. Verses 9-12 of Psalm 88 even depict God as the direct source of our suffering. We cling to our faith, though it makes no sense. We pray, but it appears God rejects our petitions (Psalm 88:13-14). Instead, His wrath seems to come over us (Psalm 88:16), leaving only darkness as our closest companion (Psalm 88:18).
The First Step Towards Healing
If you are feeling this way, well-meaning people may tell you to “cheer up,” “keep the faith,” or “hang in there!” While such sentiments might work for cats on a poster, they often fall empty. We know these things already.
The psalmist and those the Spirit moved to include this psalm in the canon want you to understand that crying is a normal human experience. My mother used to say, “sometimes you just need a good cry.”
Yes, we should not abandon hope. God has not moved, and He is faithful to keep His promises. But before you force yourself to “cheer up,” allow yourself the moment to acknowledge your pain. Realizing that admitting your suffering does not diminish you. It is often the first, and perhaps most important, step toward recovery.
Tomorrow, we will read Psalms 89-94.
Works Cited
Bounding, Pixar. Inside Out. Directed by Pete Docter. Emeryville, CA: Pixar Animation Studios, 2015.
Barna Group. “State of Pastors Report: The Stresses and Struggles of Ministry.” Barna Group, 2024. Accessed [Date Accessed, e.g., June 16, 2025].
The Holy Bible, New International Version. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2011.