Psalm 42 NIV
"As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God? My tears have been my food day and night, while men say to me all day long, 'Where is your God?' These things I remember as I pour out my soul: how I used to go with the multitude, leading the procession to the house of God, with shouts of joy and thanksgiving among the festive throng.
Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.
My soul is downcast within me; therefore I will remember you from the land of the Jordan, the heights of Hermon–from Mount Mizar. Deep calls to deep in the roar of your waterfalls; all your waves and breakers have swept over me. By day the Lord directs his love, at night his song is with me– a prayer to the God of my life. I say to God my Rock, 'Why have you forgotten me? Why must I go about mourning, oppressed by the enemy?' My bones suffer mortal agony as my foes taunt me, saying to me all day long, 'Where is your God?'
Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God."
"As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God? My tears have been my food day and night, while men say to me all day long, 'Where is your God?' These things I remember as I pour out my soul: how I used to go with the multitude, leading the procession to the house of God, with shouts of joy and thanksgiving among the festive throng.
Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.
My soul is downcast within me; therefore I will remember you from the land of the Jordan, the heights of Hermon–from Mount Mizar. Deep calls to deep in the roar of your waterfalls; all your waves and breakers have swept over me. By day the Lord directs his love, at night his song is with me– a prayer to the God of my life. I say to God my Rock, 'Why have you forgotten me? Why must I go about mourning, oppressed by the enemy?' My bones suffer mortal agony as my foes taunt me, saying to me all day long, 'Where is your God?'
Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God."
Are you good at masking heaviness of spirit? Do you know how to present a smile, while your internal world is struggling under the weight of confusion and darkness? Do you know the feeling of being trapped in a mental quicksand with every movement toward the light somehow trapping you further into depression?
David, the psalmist, definitely knew the pain that comes from lowness of spirit. He dealt with accusation, attacks at his character and his God. He faced murder threats and murder attempts. David experienced great sadness and tears. He even felt abandoned by God.
You can get so used to living with lowness of spirit that it becomes like a bad friend. You know it's bad for you… but at least the bad friend is familiar. Your desperate attempts to control your life with fear and mistrust seem odd, even to you. It doesn't work. But, you're used to the routine. Are you ready for a change?
In this Psalm of David, we are given a way to deal with the depression in our lives. David is gut honest with God. He tells God how his life is falling apart. He tells God exactly how he is feeling, even if it doesn't sound good. Are you willing to do that? He turns his sadness and lowness of spirit into a desperate longing for God. David reveals that his greatest longing is not to be free, but to know God. He pants for God, longs to meet with God. Your greatest need is not your own freedom from depression, but God himself. Don't try to beat depression. Turn your gaze to God… begin speaking out your longing to know him, to be filled by him.
David also speaks to his own soul. He leads himself in worship. He commands his whole being to "hope in God." Hope is an action here… not a feeling or a wish. That means - you can do it! Speak out loud to your oppressed spirit, as David does. What does this mean specifically? Speak aloud the character of God. Sing aloud his praises. Remember details of how he has saved you, forgiven you and set you free in the past. Thank him for his ongoing mercy. The obedient actions of praise, worship, remembering and thanking will bring a lifting to your heavy load. You can do this! The trick of depression says that there is nothing you can do to change your situation. The truth of God says you can "put your hope in God" and watch the darkness become light.
David, the psalmist, definitely knew the pain that comes from lowness of spirit. He dealt with accusation, attacks at his character and his God. He faced murder threats and murder attempts. David experienced great sadness and tears. He even felt abandoned by God.
You can get so used to living with lowness of spirit that it becomes like a bad friend. You know it's bad for you… but at least the bad friend is familiar. Your desperate attempts to control your life with fear and mistrust seem odd, even to you. It doesn't work. But, you're used to the routine. Are you ready for a change?
In this Psalm of David, we are given a way to deal with the depression in our lives. David is gut honest with God. He tells God how his life is falling apart. He tells God exactly how he is feeling, even if it doesn't sound good. Are you willing to do that? He turns his sadness and lowness of spirit into a desperate longing for God. David reveals that his greatest longing is not to be free, but to know God. He pants for God, longs to meet with God. Your greatest need is not your own freedom from depression, but God himself. Don't try to beat depression. Turn your gaze to God… begin speaking out your longing to know him, to be filled by him.
David also speaks to his own soul. He leads himself in worship. He commands his whole being to "hope in God." Hope is an action here… not a feeling or a wish. That means - you can do it! Speak out loud to your oppressed spirit, as David does. What does this mean specifically? Speak aloud the character of God. Sing aloud his praises. Remember details of how he has saved you, forgiven you and set you free in the past. Thank him for his ongoing mercy. The obedient actions of praise, worship, remembering and thanking will bring a lifting to your heavy load. You can do this! The trick of depression says that there is nothing you can do to change your situation. The truth of God says you can "put your hope in God" and watch the darkness become light.
