Psalm 42 is a great source of strength for those who are hurting or just need a bit of encouragement. I know it has been that for me and continues to be that for me. In verse 6 the psalmist says, "my soul is downcast within me, therefore I will remember you from the land of Jordan, the heights of hermon-from Mount Mizzar" This Psalm is a cry from the remnant of Israel to God in their time of need. It also echoes the cries of Jonah when he was in the depths of the sea in a fish. His heartcries for God to save him came from the deep and God is the God of the deep. Verse 7 - Deep calls to deep in the roar of your waterfalls, all your waves and breakers, have swept over me. It may seem at times that you are sinking deeper and deeper, and you cry out to God in desperation from that depth and in the deepest part of who you are He answers. The Psalmist asked the question to God, "Why have you forgotten me?" But then in the deep He hears God's call to let him know that God is still with Him.
Of course, now you know this is not stuff that is just below the surface. This is deep stuff. Deep in our soul, the part that changes our lives from the inside out. This could have easily been the cry of David as his enemies surrounded him hoping to kill him. David wondering where God is and pleading for God to come through. David's heart yearned for God to answer and work and God always did, but it is not David. It is you and me and it is now. When have you been so utterly confounded in your life that you cried out to God from the depth of your soul? God is there and He hears your cry. It seems like so many of the psalms were written from a deep place in the writers soul and God heard the cry. His love and interest in our individual lives matters deep in our souls. You may ask, "I'm one in a billion people. How can God ever care for me individually?" He does care and He sees and hears our cries as the wonderful creation He made. God cares!!! That alone is a strength point for any believer when dealing with the struggles of life. God is listening and He wants us to turn to Him. If you have been trying to bear your own problems by yourself and you are drowning, then call out from the depths of your soul and He will hear you and respond because He cares. Here's what Jude wrote to the early church in their time of trouble. Jude 1,2 I, Jude, am a slave to Jesus Christ and brother to James, writing to those loved by God the Father, called and kept safe by Jesus Christ. Relax, everything's going to be all right; rest, everything's coming together; open your hearts, love is on the way! What a great encouragement from one believer to another.
So, in the depth of your struggle God is there, and praise God others are there to lift you up at just the right time. It may seem like you are all alone, but you aren't. God is there and other believers are there too. Walk on out of that deep water and get on the dry ground of service for God and be ready to encourage someone else who might be in the depths of their struggles. Cause as Jude says, "Love is on the way!"
The pilgrimage continues.....
David Warren
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