You just can’t take it anymore. This time, you don’t think you can get back up again.
You’ve had bad news, your family is in trouble — or you’re unsure of the future. Even your health isn’t cooperating as it once did.
“Hope in God; for I shall again praise Him, my salvation and my God.”
Life has kicked you down one too many times, and despair and depression have become your companions. You want to join in on the merriment that people make around you, but your smile never quite reaches your eyes. There doesn’t seem to be a way out of the darkness.
Psalm 43:5 says, “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.”
Instead of dissolving into a puddle of tears, the Psalmist stops and thinks. He is doing some soul-searching.
When was the last time you did some real soul-searching? Having some time to sort out your feelings and make some sense of everything needs to be done alone. It’s between you and God. He won’t reveal why everything is happening, but He will remind you that He is your rock, your firm foundation in the storm.
The Psalmist has been oppressed by the enemy left and right, and sees no way of escape. Life has kicked him down, and he’s tempted to stay down.
Related: ‘Exorcist’ Author Explored Evil to Inspire Faith
Do you ever feel that way? That standing up under the pressure of the world (job, family, expectations) is just impossible?
It is impossible — on our own. But we are never alone. God never leaves us nor forsakes us. In Him we find our rest. “Hope in God; for I shall again praise Him, my salvation and my God.”
Not only is God constantly with us, we have this hope that doesn’t fade. That hope is the salvation we find in Jesus Christ. That hope says we don’t have to fear the future, that the negative situation that is happening right now has an end. That hope lifts us up above our circumstances, so that we gain some new perspective. And when God lifts us up so we can see things from His perspective, the big picture is much brighter than we could ever imagine.
So don’t give up when you’re facing challenges head on. Be the one willing to follow God through the good times and the bad. You may feel like you keep being beaten down, but God is holding your hand. He will lift you up, dust you off, and set you back on the path He has for you.
Related: When 13,000 Millennials Gather in Faith
The path has some twists and turns; I’ve seen that so many times in my own life, and that of family and friends. But I’ve noticed such a difference between those who go through the challenges without seeking God — and those who do. Those who face the challenges on their own strength come out hardened, sometimes bitter and pessimistic. They don’t have hope anymore because the things they hoped in did not last.
But those who push through the pain, giving praise to God, experience a different ending. They have joy, despite all the hard things they endured. They have peace, because their foundation is God. And they still have hope, because their salvation is secure.
Whenever you are feeling like you’ve hit rock bottom, look up. God will shine light on your situation, and things won’t be as dark as they were before. Now longer does your soul need to be downcast. Take His hand and keep going!
Join the Discussion
Comments are currently closed.