“Why are you cast down, O my soul, and are you in turmoil within me?
Hope in God; for I shall again praise Him, my salvation and my God.”
Psalm 42:11 ESV
My pondering:
Here we see a common problem for almost every human and the ultimate solution.
We should get our mind of self and onto God. The He will be more inclined to help us.
God cares and has compassion for you yet I am utterly convinced He helps those most who help themselves, especially when those who look to Him for their help.
One thing i sure appreciate about the Bible is its authenticity. Its raw and unfiltered. Here we are privy to some of the Psalmist’s self talk. Its fascinating and illuminating as we all are human.
There are a lot of reasons we can feel ‘cast down’ and sick with ‘soul turmoil’; some legitimate and some not. Some self-inflicted and some not. Regardless, the key is our resolve. What or should I say Whom shall we look to for resolution?
The psalmist shows us. Hope in God. That’s it! There it is. He just needed to remind his soul of its need to be connected back to its creator and lover. He lost his sync. But he remembered the password and process.
Hope. Praise. God.
Here is what Mathew Henry has to say. I like and hope you do too. But the best is the Word itself.
Psalm 42:6-11 The way to forget our miseries, is to remember the God of our mercies. David saw troubles coming from God’s wrath, and that discouraged him. But if one trouble follow hard after another, if all seem to combine for our ruin, let us remember they are all appointed and overruled by the Lord. David regards the Divine favour as the fountain of all the good he looked for. In the Saviour’s name let us hope and pray. One word from him will calm every storm, and turn midnight darkness into the light of noon, the bitterest complaints into joyful praises. Our believing expectation of mercy must quicken our prayers for it. At length, is faith came off conqueror, by encouraging him to trust in the name of the Lord, and to stay himself upon his God. He adds, And my God; this thought enabled him to triumph over all his griefs and fears. Let us never think that the God of our life, and the Rock of our salvation, has forgotten us, if we have made his mercy, truth, and power, our refuge. Thus the psalmist strove against his despondency: at last his faith and hope obtained the victory. Let us learn to check all unbelieving doubts and fears. Apply the promise first to ourselves, and then plead it to God.
My prayer:
God, let keep fixed upon You in Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Please prompt any hurting to seek the physicsl and spiritual remedy You know best. Amen.
Pondering Life : Pursuing God 