Scripture
Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.
Psalm 42:5 NIV
Question
If you are currently in a time of depression or despair, what are some practical ways you can seek God during this time?
Psalm 42
Thirsting for God
As the deer pants for streams of water,
so my soul pants for you, my God. —Psalm 42:1
Psalm 42 begins with this image that has been set to song. The song, while beautiful, misses the emotion and direction of the psalm. The psalm is actually about separation from God. The psalmist, feeling discouraged, depressed, and distant from God, cries out:
My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God? (v. 2)
He continues with a brutally honest internal dialogue of faith, with his soul repeating this refrain:
Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
for I will yet praise him,
my Savior and my God. (vv. 5, 11)
Even in his feelings of isolation he trusts that his current situation is not the final answer. The parched feeling of being separated from God and alone in his depression will eventually pass. He believes that God will not remain distant forever and will not forget him. He reminds himself of God’s goodness and faithfulness. In the midst of his struggle, he can still hope that his thirst will be quenched.
Are you currently in a season of discouragement or depression? What is the condition of your soul? Is it dehydrated? Fatigued?
What are you looking to for hope that can quench your soul-thirst?
Use this psalm as a prayer to talk to God about your feelings. Like the psalmist, be brutally honest. Tell God what you need. Remember God’s past goodness in your life.
Prayer can turn your chasm into a bridge of hope.
so my soul pants for you, my God. —Psalm 42:1
Psalm 42 begins with this image that has been set to song. The song, while beautiful, misses the emotion and direction of the psalm. The psalm is actually about separation from God. The psalmist, feeling discouraged, depressed, and distant from God, cries out:
My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God? (v. 2)
He continues with a brutally honest internal dialogue of faith, with his soul repeating this refrain:
Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
for I will yet praise him,
my Savior and my God. (vv. 5, 11)
Even in his feelings of isolation he trusts that his current situation is not the final answer. The parched feeling of being separated from God and alone in his depression will eventually pass. He believes that God will not remain distant forever and will not forget him. He reminds himself of God’s goodness and faithfulness. In the midst of his struggle, he can still hope that his thirst will be quenched.
Are you currently in a season of discouragement or depression? What is the condition of your soul? Is it dehydrated? Fatigued?
What are you looking to for hope that can quench your soul-thirst?
Use this psalm as a prayer to talk to God about your feelings. Like the psalmist, be brutally honest. Tell God what you need. Remember God’s past goodness in your life.
Prayer can turn your chasm into a bridge of hope.
Prayer