Feeling Down, Looking Up

The book of Psalms is often described as “Israel’s book of praises” but in fact many psalms, like the two we are looking at today, are best described as “laments” or even “complaints.” I just love the fact that within Scripture all states of human feeling are described and affirmed, not just the positive ones. Whether we feel down, depressed or oppressed, a failure or anything else negative, God in his Word lets us know that we are not the first to feel that way. Believing psalmists have been there before us. Others may sometimes try to make us feel guilty about our feelings, but God does not. It is OK to feel bad and it is OK to express those feelings. 

The chorus which comes in the middle of Psalm 42 and at the end of both of these psalms makes it plain that the feeling of being downcast is not something in the past that has been left behind. The psalmist (Hebrew manuscripts often present these as one psalm) is quite clearly a believer and can look back on times in the past when joy and praise were the hallmarks of their faith. God is still recognized, not just as a rock, a stronghold, a delight, a savior, but as “my Rock” (42:9), “my Savior” (42:5), etc. At the time of writing, the psalmist’s awareness of God’s presence and help is a memory but not a present reality. For whatever reason, the psalmist feels only rejection and abandonment. However, in the midst of tears, pain and mourning, with a deep desire to know God but totally unable to feel his loving hug, the psalmist finds help in looking up and expressing out loud the truths known in the past. The end is not yet; there is hope.

Take time to pray for those you know who are experiencing a down time. They may not feel God’s hug, but a hug, real or metaphorical, from you may help.