You wake up depressed, even if you get to sleep at all. There’s no shortage of trouble or turmoil; you can have extra helpings, if you like. Kids in trouble, aging parents in trouble, relationship trouble, economic trouble. The enemy surrounds you and hounds you. Then you check your news feed: another shooting, another war, another disaster. Where can you go for help?
The sons of Korah sing out in Psalm 42: “As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God? My tears have been my food day and night, while they say to me all the day long, ‘Where is your God?’ These things I remember, as I pour out my soul: how I would go with the throng and lead them in procession to the house of God with glad shouts and songs of praise, a multitude keeping festival. 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.” Have your tears been your food every day and night? Is your soul in turmoil today? Hope in God. Cry out to God. Go to God, like a deer pants for water. God is not so far away that you can’t find Him. He is there to be found and waiting to be found. Jesus said, “Come to me all who are weary and heavy-burdened, I will give you rest.” Go to Him today in your darkest hour. Hope in God.
The sons continue in Psalm 42: “My soul is cast down within me; therefore I remember you from the land of Jordan and of Hermon, from Mount Mizar. Deep calls to deep at the roar of your waterfalls; all your breakers and your waves have gone over me. By day the LORD commands his steadfast love, and at night his song is with me, a prayer to the God of my life. I say to God, my rock: ‘Why have you forgotten me? Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?’ As with a deadly wound in my bones, my adversaries taunt me, while they say to me all the day long, ‘Where is your God?’ 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.” Take time to remember and pray to God today. God is a rock and firm foundation in hard times. It may seem like He has forgotten you, but He hasn’t. Others may tease and mock you, but do not fear. His steadfast love is sure. If you are cast down today, this season, if you are in turmoil, go to God. Hope in God and praise Him. He is your salvation and your God.