...my first post. I decided to start out with some thoughts on Psalm 42:5-6a.
"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."
The Christian life is hard. It just is. There are trials, temptations, and pits for us to fall into. When I run up against something difficult, I tend to be a mess. Why is this happening? Where are you Lord? Help! My soul can become very cast down, like the man in the psalm.
If I just ran to God immediately, told Him my troubles, and looked to Him for counsel, how much pain could I avoid? Probably a lot, but I just break down and do not "hope in God". I run from the comfort He could give, the peace in the knowledge that He is my salvation and God, that I am His child. Christ is always, always, always, there for me. Yet I insist on relying on myself instead of Him, causing pain and fear. I do run back to Him, eventually, but after I have turned from His love. It would be wonderful if I'd just learn to put my hope completely in God. Then I would be free to praise Him for His great love and strength in carrying me through trials. This is hard though, because my mind fills with doubts and I won't choose to be comforted. Isn't it strange how we can want to wallow in our suffering, when our Creator is there to pull us out of the mire?
The psalmist asks a good question. Why should our souls be downcast when we could be joyfully praising God, trusting our burdens in His mighty hands?
