Think, Act, Be Day 52 – Psalm 42:1-11
Deep calls to deep.
Someone suffering from depression know the waves of despair the Psalmist describes. She can remember a time when going to God’s house was delightful. She sang the songs with a smile on her face and read scripture in worship. She’s been lying in bed all night long remembering those days. She’s been up all night because she can’t sleep; in the morning, she’ll be too tired to go to work.
But just before rolling back into bed and falling into the hole again, she quietly goes to the kitchen. This time, it’s for one more drink of water. Alone, she hears a voice in the night. “By day the Lord directs his love, at night his song is with me. Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.” Yes, there is hope.
1 As a deer longs for flowing streams,
so my soul longs for you, O God.
2 My soul thirsts for God,
for the living God.
When shall I come and behold
the face of God?
3 My tears have been my food
day and night,
while people say to me continually,
“Where is your God?”
4 These things I remember,
as I pour out my soul:
how I went with the throng,
and led them in procession to the house of God,
with glad shouts and songs of thanksgiving,
a multitude keeping festival.
5 Why are you cast down, O my soul,
and why are you disquieted within me?
Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,
my help 6 and my God.
My soul is cast down within me;
therefore I remember you
from the land of Jordan and of Hermon,
from Mount Mizar.
7 Deep calls to deep
at the thunder of your cataracts;
all your waves and your billows
have gone over me.
8 By day the Lord commands his steadfast love,
and at night his song is with me,
a prayer to the God of my life.
9 I say to God, my rock,
“Why have you forgotten me?
Why must I walk about mournfully
because the enemy oppresses me?”
10 As with a deadly wound in my body,
my adversaries taunt me,
while they say to me continually,
“Where is your God?”
11 Why are you cast down, O my soul,
and why are you disquieted within me?
Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,
my help and my God.
Psalm 42:1-11 –