Psalm 42 Devotional

Talking Back to a Downcast Soul

“Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why the unease within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my Savior and my God.”Psalm 42:11 (BSB)

Longing fills the opening image. As a deer pants for flowing streams, the psalmist's soul thirsts for the living God (42:1-2). But he is far from the place of worship. His tears have become his food day and night, while others keep asking where his God is (42:3). He feels as though every wave and breaker has rolled over him (42:7).

What stands out is how he speaks to himself. Twice he asks his own soul why it is so downcast, and twice he tells it to hope in God, because he will yet praise him (42:5, 42:11). He does not deny the sadness, but he does not let it have the last word. In between, he holds on to the LORD's loving devotion by day and a song in the night (42:8). This is faith in the middle of discouragement: not pretending, but reminding your own heart who God is. When your feelings say God is far away, you can answer them with his faithfulness.

To think about: What might it sound like for you to speak to your own discouraged heart today and tell it to hope in God?