Prepare: How can we come out of depression?
Read: Psalm 42 & 43
All of us go through times when our prayers seem to fall on deaf ears, our worship appears dull and flat, and God seems far away. The writer of this Psalm knew feelings like that.
What he feels: It's like one of the most excruciating of human sufferings thirst. He speaks, not to himself, but to the God, for whose presence he longs. Inwardly his heart is echoing what his ears hear outwardly. 'Where is He then?' Do we care about God as deeply as this? Or do we sometime get through the day with hardly a thought of God?
What he remembers: Recollection can lead in one of two directions: either to melancholy, despair or self-pity, or else to a new resolution and purposefulness. He chooses the latter. The past is for instruction, not mere nostalgia. Do you keep alive memories of what God has done for you? You can recall them for encouragement.
What he learns: His 'where' turns to 'why'? Yet it is addressed to himself. It is not a question so much as a rebuke. Self-pity asks 'why me?' and stops there. Faith also asks why, but goes on to add 'why are you like this when you can do something about it?' The change in the way we feel may not be 'instant', but if we go on trusting God even when it's hard, things will improve.
Respond: Lord, help me to trust You even in difficult circumstances.
Read: Psalm 42 & 43
All of us go through times when our prayers seem to fall on deaf ears, our worship appears dull and flat, and God seems far away. The writer of this Psalm knew feelings like that.
What he feels: It's like one of the most excruciating of human sufferings thirst. He speaks, not to himself, but to the God, for whose presence he longs. Inwardly his heart is echoing what his ears hear outwardly. 'Where is He then?' Do we care about God as deeply as this? Or do we sometime get through the day with hardly a thought of God?
What he remembers: Recollection can lead in one of two directions: either to melancholy, despair or self-pity, or else to a new resolution and purposefulness. He chooses the latter. The past is for instruction, not mere nostalgia. Do you keep alive memories of what God has done for you? You can recall them for encouragement.
What he learns: His 'where' turns to 'why'? Yet it is addressed to himself. It is not a question so much as a rebuke. Self-pity asks 'why me?' and stops there. Faith also asks why, but goes on to add 'why are you like this when you can do something about it?' The change in the way we feel may not be 'instant', but if we go on trusting God even when it's hard, things will improve.
Respond: Lord, help me to trust You even in difficult circumstances.
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