|
"Why am I discouraged?
Why is my heart so sad?
I will put my hope in God!
I will praise him again—
my Savior and my God!"
(Psalm 42:11)
Psalm 42:5 and 42:11 are identical. It is interesting to me that these two verses are in the same chapter. I love it when God does this. He states His truth and then repeats it in case we missed it the first time! During sorrow and pain, God instructs clearly what our response should be. We must trust and praise Him in the storm. There is power in simply trusting God and lifting your voice in worship. I offer this especially to those whose hearts are heavy with depression or discouragement. I know the last thing you want to do in your pain is trust God and sing His praise. I get it. But the way you move forward in victory over the enemy of your soul is to do what the lover of your soul instructs you to do.
The story behind the famous hymn, "It Is Well," is very powerful. Horatio Spafford was a wealthy and successful lawyer in Chicago, IL. He invested a large sum of money in Chicago but lost it all in the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. He encountered more economic hardship in 1873. He planned to sail overseas but had to stay behind to work on zoning problems caused by the Chicago Fire. The ship his family was on sank, and all four of his daughters died; his wife alone was saved. Horatio traveled to meet his wife, Anna, and near the very place where his daughters perished, he wrote the famous hymn. "When peace like a river attendeth my way, when sorrows like sea billows roll, whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say, it is well, it is well with my soul." They had three more children, but their son Horatio died of scarlet fever at four years of age. They moved to Jerusalem and started a ministry called the American Colony where they served many. During WWI, their ministry assisted those in orphanages, and hospitals.
( Source.)
The psalmist, though broken over many sorrows, knew deep down that the answer to his woes and heartaches was God. He knew there was none other to whom he could turn, so he poured out his soul to God. He stated two times ( verses 5 and 11) that his only help and salvation was God.
Can you say it is well with your soul right now? I pray that you can say it, but if not, will you take your burden to God in prayer, trust Him, and praise Him for the help He will provide?
|
Apple
Spotify
Stitcher
YouTube
