Tim Keller on “Dark Times”

If you read my social media posts or this blog from time to time, then you probably know that I work part-time as a course writer and teacher at Enlightium Academy. I am finishing the second half of a Psychology course. All I have left is one project. In this project, students are asked to reflect upon depression, an experience that comes to all (mild, medium, or severe) at one point or another. And yes, this includes Christians. God doesn’t put a person in a happy bubble just because they choose to believe and follow Jesus Christ.

For this project, I am requiring students to watch a message that Tim Keller preached in London titled, “How to Deal With Dark Times.” Rooted in Psalms 88, Keller points out that this Psalm and Psalms 39 are the only two Psalms (out of 150) that do not end in hope. If you are going through a difficult time in life, this message can help your mind and heart. Keller’s first point is worth mentioning: Through no fault of one’s own making, a Christian can be in darkness for a long time. If you click here, you will be redirected to an Evernote file that contains a rough outline of Keller’s talk. I hope you find it helpful.

As Keller explains, there is no such thing as “objective” abandonment for Christians. Only Christ was actually abandoned by the Father. Therefore, all that remains is “subjective” abandonment. In other words, though we may feel abandoned by God (feel = subjective), it is never the case (objective). He is with us. He is for us. He has not and will not walk away from us. It is important to remember that feelings do not always paint an accurate picture of reality. And when they do, the image is probably quite impressionistic in style.