“Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance.” – Psa. 42:5
We often hear jokes about people talking to themselves, but in the case of our text it is no joking matter. Here we find that it can be of great help. The psalmist is speaking to himself out of the depths of depression. He feels and fears that God has forsaken him. His situation is so severe that to say he is depressed is an under statement.
The strange thing is that neither we nor he sees the cause of his calamity. That’s the way it is sometimes with depression. We find ourselves in it for no apparent reason. We have a roof over our head, food on the table, clothes on our back, friends at our side, and luxuries galore, yet we get depressed! We could understand if we were troubled by domestic strife, marital conflict, vocational trouble, financial problems, or disease. But everything is in tact and we don’t understand why we are depressed. So, what do we do?
The psalmist remembered God and that gave him hope. Although he couldn’t understand the cause he found the cure! He knew that God could help and believed He would. He is, after all, “the God of hope” ( Rom. 15:13). What we need to remember is that He gives us hope through the reading of His word. Rom. 15:4 says, “For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.” As we read of His endless love, great power, mighty works, and precious promises it imparts hope and that helps.
I don’t know your state of mind, but I do know that our God “is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,” ( Eph. 3:20). If you are a child of God you are never without help. Shift your focus to Him and “ the God of peace shall be with you” ( Phil. 4:9). “And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 4:7). This day might not be nearly so bad as you first thought! – HDS
David Stone
Lakeway Baptist Church
5801 FM 1960 E
Humble, TX. 77346
