The Psalmist is thirsting for God. He desires to meet him. But now his mood is not one of enthusiasm. There is darkness in his soul. He is down in spirit and discouraged in his soul.
You might have seen good times in life when along with others you found joy in worshipping God. But now because of sorrow or discouragement or even depression you are feeling forsaken.
Cheer up. You are not alone in this difficulty. Several godly men and women down through the centuries have faced cruel discouragement. Know that such seasons of disappointment do come. But even though they are seemingly bad it is preparing the soul to seek after God in a passionate manner than ever before.
Think about it. Has not your brokenness and desperation led you to a deeper knowledge of God? Has not the difficulties that surround you made you understand that human help is not possible beyond a certain limit? Did not that realization help you to hope in God to a greater degree than ever before? If that has happened then the trouble you passed through was to your profit.
Thrice in Psalms 42and 43,the Psalmist cries out about his despairing experience. But he also states the solution he has found out. Let us look at it: “Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Saviour and my God.”
Here is the focus shift that you need to practice. Even when your mind is troubled by negative thoughts, start to change your focus and look to God. The difficulties won’t change as a result; but your mind will stop being disturbed. Instead of putting your hope in human help, start to hope in God. That will certainly be rewarded.
Above all, start praising God even when you don’t feel like doing so. It is not easy. But once you start praising God, the great difficulties you imagined will look less threatening.
Your disturbed mind could have been the result of mistakes you made or the result of some bad decisions. It can be because of sin in your life. Whatever it be, God is your Saviour. He will not fail to come to your aid when you put your hope in him. Yes, there is a way out of your failure and your humbling circumstances in life. It is the royal road of hope in God and praise on your lips!