“HOPE WHEN MY SOUL IS DOWN”
Main Scripture — Psalm 42:5
“Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance.”
Supporting Scripture — Psalm 42:11
“Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.”
INTRODUCTION — WHEN THE BATTLE IS INSIDE
There are some battles people can see.
If your arm is broken, somebody can see the cast.
If your leg is injured, somebody can see you limping.
If you have been in an accident, somebody can see the damage.
But some of the greatest battles people fight cannot be seen from the outside.
You can look good and still be hurting.
You can wear a uniform and still be hurting.
You can carry a badge and still be hurting.
You can wear a clergy collar and still be hurting.
You can sing in the choir and still be hurting.
You can preach to everybody else and still need somebody to preach to you.
You can smile for the picture and cry when everybody goes home.
The psalmist asks himself:
“Why art thou cast down, O my soul?”
Notice where his problem was.
He didn't say, “My body is down.”
He said:
“MY SOUL IS DOWN.”
Sometimes the body gets out of bed, but the soul doesn't.
Sometimes you go to work, but your soul is tired.
Sometimes you come to church, but your soul is hurting.
Sometimes you tell everybody, “I'm doing fine,” while your soul is crying:
“Somebody help me!”
But I love this Psalm because the writer doesn't stop with:
“Why art thou cast down?”
He tells himself:
“HOPE THOU IN GOD!”
That means:
“Soul, we're hurting—but we're not quitting.”
“Soul, we're crying—but we're not giving up.”
“Soul, we don't understand—but we're going to keep trusting.”
“Soul, this is a dark chapter—but this is not the end of our story!”
POINT 1 — ACKNOWLEDGE WHEN YOUR SOUL IS HURTING
Psalm 42:3
“My tears have been my meat day and night, while they continually say unto me, Where is thy God?”
The psalmist didn't pretend.
He said:
“I've been crying.”
Sometimes Christians have been taught that admitting emotional pain means they don't have enough faith.
But the Bible is filled with people who expressed deep emotional pain.
David cried.
Job cried.
Jeremiah cried.
Elijah became discouraged.
Even Jesus wept.
John 11:35
“Jesus wept.”
Tears don't mean you have lost your faith.
Sometimes tears mean:
“I've been carrying too much for too long.”
Illustration
If the warning light comes on in your automobile, you don't solve the problem by putting tape over the warning light.
The light isn't your enemy.
The light is telling you something needs attention.
Emotional pain can be like a warning light.
Don't ignore it.
Don't hide it.
Don't be ashamed of it.
Pay attention to what your soul is telling you.
POINT 2 — DON'T BELIEVE EVERYTHING YOUR PAIN TELLS YOU
When people are hurting deeply, pain can distort their thinking.
Pain may say:
“Nobody cares.”
Pain may say:
“Nobody would miss me.”
Pain may say:
“I'm a burden.”
Pain may say:
“Things will never get better.”
Pain may say:
“There's no way out.”
But feelings, although real, are not always reliable descriptions of the future.
Psalm 42:5
“Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? HOPE THOU IN GOD...”
The psalmist challenged what his emotions were telling him.
Sometimes you have to tell yourself:
“I don't know how this is going to work out—but I'm staying.”
“I don't know what tomorrow holds—but I'm staying.”
“I don't feel strong right now—but I'm staying.”
“I need help—and I'm going to get help.”
Don't allow one terrible moment to convince you that your entire future will be terrible.
POINT 3 — REMEMBER WHAT GOD HAS ALREADY BROUGHT YOU THROUGH
Psalm 42:6
“O my God, my soul is cast down within me: therefore will I remember thee from the land of Jordan, and of the Hermonites, from the hill Mizar.”
Look at those words:
“THEREFORE WILL I REMEMBER THEE.”
When his soul went down, his memory went back.
Sometimes when you cannot see what God is doing ahead of you, you have to remember what God has already done behind you.
Remember the doors He opened.
Remember the sickness He brought you through.
Remember the bills He helped you pay.
Remember the nights you cried and somehow made it until morning.
Remember the situations you thought would destroy you—but you're still here.
Psalm 103:2
“Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits.”
If God brought you through that, don't give up in this.
Your present trouble is not the first trouble God has brought you through.
POINT 4 — DON'T ISOLATE YOURSELF IN YOUR DARKEST MOMENT
One of the dangerous things about deep emotional pain is the desire to withdraw.
You stop answering the telephone.
You stop returning messages.
You stop going around people.
You stop talking.
You suffer quietly.
But Scripture teaches us:
Ecclesiastes 4:9–10
“Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.”
“For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.”
Notice:
It doesn't say:
“If they stumble.”
It says:
“IF THEY FALL.”
God knows there will be times when somebody falls.
But God's answer is:
Make sure somebody is close enough to help you get back up.
Illustration
A police officer may call for backup when a situation becomes too dangerous to handle alone.
Calling for backup doesn't mean the officer is weak.
It means the officer understands:
“This situation requires help.”
Sometimes you've got to call for emotional backup.
Sometimes you've got to call for spiritual backup.
Sometimes you've got to call for professional backup.
Tell somebody:
“I need you.”
“I'm struggling.”
“I'm having thoughts that frighten me.”
“Please stay with me.”
“Help me get some help.”
There is no shame in calling for backup.
POINT 5 — TALK BACK TO YOUR TROUBLED SOUL
Psalm 42:5
“Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God...”
The psalmist is doing something unusual.
He is talking to himself.
Sometimes you've got to preach to yourself.
David did it again:
Psalm 103:1
“Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.”
There are times when nobody else is around to encourage you.
You've got to tell yourself:
“Soul, we're going to make it.”
“Soul, we're not giving up.”
“Soul, God has not forgotten us.”
“Soul, help is available.”
“Soul, we're going to talk to somebody.”
“Soul, we're going to see another day.”
You've listened to your trouble long enough.
Now let your trouble listen to you!
POINT 6 — GET THE HELP YOU NEED
Sometimes people think:
“If I pray, I shouldn't need counseling.”
But prayer and professional help do not have to be enemies.
We pray for healing, but we still go to the doctor.
We pray before surgery, but we still allow the surgeon to operate.
We pray over our medication, but we still take it as prescribed.
So when someone is struggling emotionally or thinking about suicide, getting professional help is not an admission of spiritual failure.
Proverbs 11:14
“Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.”
Notice that word:
“SAFETY.”
God can use:
A pastor.
A counselor.
A doctor.
A therapist.
A chaplain.
A trusted family member.
A faithful friend.
Don't limit how God can send help.
Sometimes the answer to your prayer is the person God sends to walk with you.
POINT 7 — YOUR STORY IS NOT FINISHED
Psalm 42:11
“Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: FOR I SHALL YET PRAISE HIM, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.”
Here is the shouting part of this message:
“I SHALL YET!”
“Yet” means:
It's not happening right now—but it's coming.
I'm crying now—
BUT I SHALL YET PRAISE HIM.
I'm hurting now—
BUT I SHALL YET PRAI
