Monday Morning Encouragement -- Soul Talk

 

"Why are you in despair, O my soul? 
And why have you become disturbed within me? 
Hope in God, for I shall again praise Him 
For the help of His presence." Psalm 42:5

Have you ever felt so discouraged that you had to talk your soul into hoping in God? This is what David does in Psalm 42. He had seen the faithfulness of God in the past and had experienced great heights of joy. And yet, at the time of this writing, he is depressed. 

Things haven't been going well for David. He's under duress from the persecution of his enemies. He's hurting, and for David there was only one place to go with his pain. He went to God and poured out his heart.  

The words of Psalm 42 reveal the inner struggle David was experiencing. His feelings told him one thing, but his knowledge of God and the truth of His faithfulness to David throughout his life, told him  something quite different. David doesn't base God's faithfulness on how he feels at the moment. He remembers God's faithfulness in the past, and he relies on that truth to soothe his troubled heart. To set things right. 

Bad things happen to God's people; even to "a man after God's own heart." David struggled with his emotions, but he never stopped trusting in God. He reminded himself to "hope in God" and assured himself that he would "again praise Him for the help of". . .what?  His presence. It is the presence of the Lord that David needed most, and it is that same presence that we need, especially when we are in despair. 

If your soul needs a pep talk today, Psalm 42 is a great place to start.

Today's music video You Are My Hope by Hannah Johnson is a testimony to God's faithfulness.

I love you, I'm thinking of you, and I'm praying for you.