As the deer longs for streams of water, so I long for you, O God. I thirst for God, the living God. When can I go and stand before him? Day and night I have only tears for food, while my enemies continually taunt me, saying, “Where is this God of yours?” My heart is breaking as I remember how it used to be: I walked among the crowds of worshipers, leading a great procession to the house of God, singing for joy and giving thanks amid the sound of a great celebration! 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 my God! Now I am deeply discouraged, but I will remember you— even from distant Mount Hermon, the source of the Jordan, from the land of Mount Mizar. I hear the tumult of the raging seas as your waves and surging tides sweep over me. But each day the Lord pours his unfailing love upon me, and through each night I sing his songs, praying to God who gives me life. “O God my rock,” I cry, “why have you forgotten me? Why must I wander around in grief, oppressed by my enemies?” Their taunts break my bones. They scoff, “Where is this God of yours?” 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 my God!
Psalms 42:1-11 NLT
The psalmist asks, “Why am I so downcast?” He has been weeping for days, been attacked by enemies who mock God, and is remembering the good days of worship with God’s people. We have a clear answer as to why the author is downcast! Yet there is HOPE.
Hope comes from the Lord. This is why the psalmist longs for the Lord like a deer for water. Only God gives the water of life. Though discouraged, the poet praises the Lord. The Unfailing One pours (note the water analogy again) His unfailing love into the hearts of those who seek Him. Though sad, the believer worships the Lord, refusing to let the sadness be stronger than the song of praise. Though God seems far away, He is truly near, and the choice is made to worship.
What can you learn from this psalm about how to deal with hard times? What can you put into practice this week?
