PSALM 42

Do you talk to your soul? Have you recently been overwhelmed? Some seasons in life can weigh us down. Whether it is water coming into your house, having no water at your house, having issues with your car, or health questions, when we focus on our circumstances and issues, our soul gets heavy. Some seasons feel like constant turmoil. At times these attacks on our soul come from the enemy. Sometimes God allows testing to refine us. No matter who you are, there are times when your soul is cast down. There are no “super Christians” who never struggle with what is going on around them.

The author of Psalm 42 is facing oppression from an enemy. This may have been written during the time of Daniel and the Babylonian exile. The Psalmist is struggling with his circumstances; his soul is cast down and in despair. 

We will all face times like this and when we do; we have a choice. We can pretend nothing is wrong and just hope things change. Or, we can have an honest conversation in our heart: 

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. My soul is cast down within me; therefore I remember you… — Psalm 42:5-6

Why are you cast down? We need to honestly evaluate our hearts. What is causing the anxiety and turmoil? Identify it, but then move on. We should not dwell on our problems or circumstances. We should acknowledge them and pour them out before God. However, if we merely dwell on our problems, we are prone to lose sight of God and what He has done. 

We have a choice to make. We can dwell on our despair, or we can tell our soul to hope in God. These words are not a magic spell. Uttering them will not make everything better, but speaking them and believing them will move your heart and soul in the right direction. We serve a God who is love. He is all-powerful and merciful. Our hope in Him is secure. Even though we don’t feel like it, we need to set our hope in Him. We need to remember all the things He has done for us, and we need to praise Him. He is our salvation and our rock. 

This will not make our circumstances disappear, but we do have a choice in how we approach these difficulties. We can walk through them with hope or we can give in to despair. We need to remind our soul of who God is and what He does. Do not let the enemy lie to you about God’s character and faithfulness. Do not give in to your feelings. Honestly admit your struggle to the Lord, cry out to Him, and set your hope in Him. This is not an easy lesson to learn. It is one we will learn throughout our lives. However, we can be certain of one thing, He is worthy of our hope and trust.