In writing out Psalm 42, I recognized myself. I used to get depressed and full of sorrow, then I would reach out to God and had hope again. I thought the sadness was over, but then my heart would grow heavy again. I learned I had to fight sadness and discontent with prayer and speaking God’s words out loud.
I think the first negative thought we have is a temptation to go down the path to depression. If we stop and dwell on the negative thought, more will come until our minds are full of sadness. We need to stop at the first thought and give it to God. Then start thanking God for all the good things in our lives.
We can go through each day in sorrow or peaceful joy. It is up to us.
Psalm 42.
Like a deer pants for water, my soul pants for you, O my God. I thirst for the living God. I long to meet him face to face.
Yet I have been crying day and night, and people ask me, “Where is your God.”
As I pour out my soul to God, then I remember how I used to go to church with shouts of joy among other believers.
Why is my soul in sorrow? Why do I feel so disturbed? I must put my hope in God; if I can do that, I will then praise him, my Savior and my God.
My soul is in sorrow; therefore, I will think on you. My life is filled with turmoil, like waves of the sea going over my head.
Yet, in the daytime, the Lord sends his love to me. In the evening, he puts a song in my heart and a prayer to the God of my life.
Yet later I say, “Why have you forgotten me? Why must I go around in sadness because my enemies oppress me? They ask me, “Where is your God?”
I ask myself again, “Why is my soul filled with sorrow? Why do I feel torn in my heart? I must put my hope in God. If I do that, I will again praise him, my Savior and my God.
