When you are sad and discouraged

 “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!” (Psalm 42:5-6 and also repeated in Psalm 42:11 NLT)

Discouragement can appear overwhelming, but hold on!

The above passage is repeated twice in Psalms 42. When something is repeated twice it means you should pay special attention to it. The Psalm is about being deeply discouraged and sad, yet in the midst of his despair, the writer understands that God is still his answer and asks, “Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad?” And then he follows saying, “I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again— my Savior and my God!” Psalm 42 is about the age old struggle between having deep feelings of discouragement, while at the same time knowing that God is the answer. Verse 8 says, “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.” Like the psalmist in this passage, during times of discouragement and sadness we must  hold fast to what we believe understanding that God is our ever present help. Read the entire passage below. 

Psalms 42: 5-11 — Dealing with discouragement and sadness

“5 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 

6 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. 

 7 I hear the tumult of the raging seas as your waves and surging tides sweep over me. 

8 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. 

9 “O God my rock,” I cry, “why have you forgotten me? Why must I wander around in grief, oppressed by my enemies?”

10 Their taunts break my bones.

They scoff, “Where is this God of yours?”

11 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!

Therefore…

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” (Josh. 1:9 ESV)

“But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” (2 Cor. 12:9 ESV)

Quotes:

“The Christian life is not a constant high. I have my moments of deep discouragement. I have to go to God in prayer with tears in my eyes, and say, ‘O God, forgive me,’ or ‘Help me.’” - Billy Graham

“The remedy for discouragement is the Word of God. When you feed your heart and mind with its truth, you regain your perspective and find renewed strength.” - Warren Wiersbe