by John Crotts
The Psalms speak realistically about tough situations, with the inspired writers venting their emotions on full display. God often shows up in unexpected ways—not every psalm ends with “happily ever after.” Authentic descriptions of problems show you can trust in God’s prescriptions.
One of the instructions in God’s Word says that in times of deep despair, when everything is going wrong, you should stop giving in to negative voices and instead command yourself to hope in God. We see this in Psalms 42 and 43, where the psalmist repeats this accusatory question: “Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me?” (Ps. 42:5, 11; 43:5). And each time, he repeats word for word a command to hope: “Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God” (Ps. 42:5–6, 11; 43:5).
This is an important prescription for despair.
The psalm’s author reveals his deep hopelessness in many ways, including feelings of abandonment. Many people put the first verses of Psalm 42 in sweet songs and on pretty posters: “As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God. My soul thirsts
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