Psalm 42:5: Dealing With Discouragement and Depression. Psalm 42:5 (NIV) Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God. Psalm 42:5 (NLT) Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again" my Savior and COMMENTARY APPLICATIONS Arguing is usually a big waste of time and energy, but there is something to be said for arguing with yourself. In fact, that's a very biblical thing to do. Go ahead and speak truth and hope into your own soul! That's what the psalmist did. When he was in distress and felt himself slipping into a dark place, he spoke directly to his own heart: "Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God." Maybe you've been listening to too many negative, hopeless voices on the nightly news... in the carpool... or on the phone with your friends. Maybe the evil one has been whispering words of death, defeat, and futility into your ear. It's time to set the record straight! Declare the truth about who you are in Christ. Remind your soul that Jesus is your help and hope, that the Father deeply loves you, and that your future is secure in heaven. Dear Lord Jesus, I've listened too long to cynical words, dark thoughts - and anxieties that buzz around my head like bees. Help me to speak life and peace into my own soul by the power of Your indwelling Holy Spirit. [Joni Eareckson Tada Daily Devotional: http://www.joniandfriends.org/daily-devotional] There will inevitably be times when your soul is downcast. But if you put your hope in God, you won't stay there for long. God is high and holy, yet he doesn't stay far off in that high and holy place, distant from us and our needs. If you're low-spirited because you've had a setback in pursuing your health goals, God is right there with you. He doesn't just visit the downcast, he moves in and camps alongside you. He is committed to helping you get up and on your feet again. The Bible says, "Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken" (Psalm 55:22). That's a promise you can count on. God wants to carry your load with you. What do you need to pile onto his shoulders? God will live with you and help you through your challenges. Put your hope in God; he is the most reliable comforter. You can depend on him. [The Daniel Plan 365-Day Devotional] When we experience disappointment in life, it can develop into depression unless we quickly put our hope in God and believe that we can begin again and experience victory. While working on a book recently, I lost several hours of work by accidentally hitting a delete key on my computer. I actually made a series of errors that prevented me from being able to get the work back. I was disappointed, to say the least! I had a choice to make. I could remain upset and let my disappointment turn into a bad mood that would ruin my day, or I could put my hope in God and simply begin again. I decided to trust that I would do a better job on the lost section of my work than I did the first time and not let my disappointment defeat me. No one wants to be disappointed, but at least with God on our side, we can get "reappointed." If you have experienced a recent disappointment, I encourage you to make a choice to not let it become a worse problem than it is. Don't let it turn into discouragement and then perhaps depression. God is ready to help you begin again if you will let go of the past and press on. Father, I trust You to help me turn all disappointments in life into new beginnings. Don't let me waste one of the precious days that You give me in discouragement over the past! [My Time with God by Joyce Meyer] Self-pity is a slimy, bottomless pit. Once you fall in, you tend to go deeper and deeper into the mire. As you slide down those slippery walls, you are well on your way to depression, and the darkness is profound. Your only hope is to look up and see the Light of My Presence shining down on you. Though the Light looks dim from your perspective, deep in the pit, those rays of hope can reach you at any depth. While you focus on Me in trust, you rise ever so slowly out of the abyss of despair. Finally, you can reach up and grasp My hand. I will pull you out into the Light again. I will gently cleanse you, washing off the clinging mire. I will cover you with My righteousness and walk with you down the path of Life. (Psa. 40:2, 3; 42:5; 147:11) [Jesus Calling by Sarah Young] Accept each day exactly as it comes to you. By that, I mean not only the circumstances of your day but also the condition of your body. Your assignment is to trust Me absolutely, resting in My sovereignty and faithfulness. On some days, your circumstances and your physical condition feel out of balance: The demands on you seem far greater than your strength. Days like that present a choice between two alternatives - giving up or relying on Me. Even if you wrongly choose the first alternative, I will not reject you. You can turn to Me at any point, and I will help you crawl out of the mire of discouragement. I will infuse My strength into you moment by moment, giving you all that you need for this day. Trust Me by relying on My empowering Presence. (Psalm 42:5; 2 Corinthians 13:4; Jeremiah 31:25) [Jesus Calling by Sarah Young] When you are feeling downcast, the best remedy is to remember Me. Think about who I am - your Lord and your God, your Savior and Shepherd, the Friend who will never leave you. I am fully aware of your every circumstance as well as all your thoughts and feelings. Everything about you is important to Me because you are so precious to Me. Remember the many ways I have taken care of you and helped you. Thank Me for each one that comes to mind, and relax in My loving Presence. Tell Me about the things that are weighing you down. Though I know all about them, your voicing them to Me provides relief from the heavy load you've been carrying. In the Light of My Presence, you will see things more clearly. Together, you and I can sort out what is important and what is not. Moreover, as you linger with Me, My Face shines upon you - blessing, encouraging, and comforting you. I assure you that you will again praise Me for the help of My Presence. (Psa. 42:6; John 20:28; Deu. 31:8; Psa. 42:5) [Jesus Always by Sarah Young] Come to Me for rest and refreshment. The journey has been too much for you, and you are bone-weary. Do not be ashamed of your exhaustion. Instead, see it as an opportunity for Me to take charge of your life. Remember that I can fit everything into a pattern for good, including the things you wish were different. Start with where you are at this point in time and space, accepting that this is where I intend you to be. You will get through today one step, one moment at a time. Your main responsibility is to remain attentive to Me, letting Me guide you through the many choices along your pathway. This sounds like an easy assignment, but it is not. Your desire to live in My Presence goes against the grain of "the world, the flesh, and the devil." Much of your weariness results from your constant battle against these opponents. However you are on the path of My choosing, so do not give up! Hope in Me, for you will again praise Me for the help of My Presence. (Rom. 8:28; Psalm 42:11) [Jesus Calling by Sarah Young] Praise Me for the help of My Presence. At all times and in all circumstances, it's appropriate to pray: "Thank You, Jesus, for being with me here and now." You may not sense My Presence with you, but I have promised - and that is enough! An important part of your assignment as a Christian is to trust that I am with you always. In faith, talk to Me about your thoughts and feelings, your struggles and pleasures. Believe that I care for you deeply and I hear all your prayers. Seek My help with confident anticipation. Be on the lookout for all the ways I am at work: in you and through you. Rejoice that you and I together can do immeasurably more than all you ask or imagine. My Power is at work within you - especially as it connects with your weakness offered up to Me for My purposes. Remember that nothing is impossible with Me, and refuse to be intimidated by daunting circumstances. Praise Me for the help of My Presence! (Psa. 42:5 Mat. 28:20; Eph. 3:20; Luke 1:37) [Jesus Always by Sarah Young] ONE LINERS Sometimes we do not even know why we feel discouraged or down or sad. It is good at those times to consciously put our hope in God to draw on His strength, and to anticipate the grace He will show us. [Life Principles SB By Charles Stanley re Psa. 42:11] It is said that when Luther was at the brink of despair, he would ask the question in this verse, and say to Melanchthon, Come, Philipp, let us sing the 46th Psalm. [SDA Bible Commentary] LINK FOR FURTHER STUDY ON THIS PASSAGE http://www.abible.com/devotions/2012/20120502-1812.html LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT Most Important Decision in Life: http://www.youtube.com/embed/WGnEuGwvXqU?rel=0 A Man without Equal by Bill Bright: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NiVa7UoruIo [old, but one of the best] Importance of Choice: http://creationhealth.com/CREATION-Health/Choice [click on video] Seeking God Made Real: http://vimeo.com/31489782 Prayer Made Real: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tc8VdMV26VE Musical Devotional On Christian Living: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OcotY5K7T0c Medical Seminar on Healthful Living by David DeRose, MD, MPH: https://www.smartlifestyletv.com/lifestart LINKS FOR BIBLE STUDIES Lifting Up Jesus Bible Studies: http://www.liftingupjesus.net/ Amazing Facts Bible Studies: http://www.amazingfacts.org/bible-study/bible-study-guides.aspx Discover Bible Studies: http://studies.itiswritten.com/discover/ Glow Tract Video Bible Studies: http://www.bibleresearch.info/ ABible.com: http://www.aBible.com LINKS FOR BIBLE PROPHECY SEMINARS The Last Day of Prophecy by Pastor Doug Batchelor: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLmGvdtMCf1aJTiC59-lPtuUMEq_uEn0BK Restoring The Power by John Bradshaw: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLRogO1SxoZN15Boa7BMon4BouVMdteVaq Prophecies Decoded by Pastor Ron Clouzet: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1A435C5373550657 Last Day Prophecy: His Other Sheep by Pastor Gerald Babanezhad: https://vimeo.com/162267518