“Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again— my Savior and my God!”
Psalms 42:11 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/psa.42.11.NLT
The Psalms bring us many great gifts. One of them is addressing common issues we face with honest vulnerability, which keeps bringing us back to God and his faithfulness, even when life is hard.
Reflection
We all deal with discouragement from time to time. None of us is exempt from it. Sometimes it sweeps in unexpectedly and sucks the life right out of us before we even understand what hit us.
Other times, real external threats are bearing down on us, and we do not see a way through.
It is common to feel discouraged by relationships, aging, finances, unresolved conflicts, fatigue, and isolation.
Left unchecked, discouragement can deepen to depression, leading one to despair.
The Psalms consistently respond to discouragement with a persistence and longing for God to be near:
As the deer longs for streams of water, so I long for you, O God.
I thirst for God, the living God.
When can I go and stand before him?
Day and night I have only tears for food, while my enemies continually taunt me, saying, “Where is this God of yours?”
My heart is breaking as I remember how it used to be: I walked among the crowds of worshipers, leading a great procession to the house of God, singing for joy and giving thanks amid the sound of a great celebration!
Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again— my Savior and my God!
Now I am deeply discouraged, but I will remember you— even from distant Mount Hermon, the source of the Jordan, from the land of Mount Mizar. I hear the tumult of the raging seas as your waves and surging tides sweep over me.
But each day the Lord pours his unfailing love upon me, and through each night I sing his songs, praying to God who gives me life. “O God my rock,” I cry, “why have you forgotten me? Why must I wander around in grief, oppressed by my enemies?” Their taunts break my bones. They scoff, “Where is this God of yours?”
Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again— my Savior and my God!”
Psalms 42:1-11 NLT
Encouragement
The honesty of this Psalm is refreshing. It is not trying to gloss over the hard things we experience and their impact on our hearts, souls, bodies, and minds.
In discouragement, the writer clings to memories of God’s faithfulness and nearness, renewing his effort to draw near and trust God.
In discouragement, the writer is honest about the many things in life that are very challenging.
In discouragement, the writer asks God to come and be near.
The end of this Psalm leaves us with the sense that the circumstances of life have not changed, but the perspective of the one who is discouraged has.
Renewed trust in God always improves our outlook on life, moving us from a spirit of discouragement to one of encouragement.
Prayer
Dear Jesus,
Thank you for the Psalms.
Thank you for speaking to issues that are both common and challenging in our lives.
Thank you for your understanding of the discouragement we go through.
Thank you for the reminder to seek you and to trust your faithfulness in our lives.
Most of all, thank you for addressing our discouragement with your presence.
Life is always better when you are near. Thank you.
In your name, Jesus, we pray,
Amen
Ed McDowell