Isn’t it amazing how affected we are as human beings by our circumstances and situations. One day the sun is shining, we are on holiday, everywhere we look we see the beauty of nature and we are filled with praise and joy. The next it is pouring with rain, we are at work and everyone is on to us, all we can see is the pile in the In Tray and the empty Out Tray, and we feel discouraged and depressed!
How are you today? Here in Psalm 42 the Psalmist is really struggling – he can’t get to worship at the house of God v4 he’s deeply depressed v7 and despite his longing to feel close to God, he actually feels very distant v2. And despite all of his tears nothing seems to change!
Friend, have you been there? I’m sure many have and perhaps some are there right now. Well I promised to keep these posts focused on a single verse and I have a choice here for Psalm 42 and 43 were clearly once a single Psalm and three times one verse appears – 42:5, 42:11 & 43:5
Psa 43:5 Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.
He simply takes his own soul to task with this question “Why are you cast down, why in turmoil?” And that might seem obvious given how he is feeling, but his point is simply this. Our eternal standing and our daily relationship with God is never governed by how we are “feeling”. It is settled, secure, certain, not in anything to do with us, but in the perfect, completed, work of Christ. So his reasoning continues – “Hope in God” Therein lies our hope, our confidence, our assurance – however I feel today or tomorrow, if I am in Christ, then I have every confidence to hope in God, and here is my assurance “for I shall again praise Him” – whatever today seems like, IT DOESN’T END HERE! As Christians we have a glorious future awaiting us for as the psalmist says He (God) is my hope and my salvation!
Friend, if today is hard day wht can you do about it?
Pray, shed tears before God, read your Bible, but above all trust in God. For He will not, He cannot abandon you! You will yet praise Him, He WILL give you your salvation in all of its future fullness – glorification, eternal life without pain, tears, temptation or sin, the visible presence of Jesus Christ, the delight of the New Heavens and Earth and the perfected redeemed of all nations!
Friend, you have so much to look forward to with eager expectation!