“Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him for the help of His countenance.”
September 10, 2023
The psalmist said to his soul, “Why are you cast down, O my soul?” Now this is where you have to take control. You have to look your soul straight in the eye and say, “Soul, why are you feeling this way?” You have to look within and analyze your heart. Why are you depressed?
Maybe you’ve lost a loved one to death. Maybe it’s a child. Maybe it’s a spouse. If you’ve lost a loved one, pour out your grief to God. Ask your friends to help share your grief and realize that life is not over for you. Whatever it is, refuse to brood and rehearse it over and over again. It does no good. If you’ve had a heartbreak, see what you’ve learned from that heartbreak and then go out and begin to develop some new relationships. Perhaps you have sinned or done some grievous thing, and you’re being haunted by the ghost of guilt. What do you do? Confess it to God. If you need to confess it to someone else and ask for forgiveness, do it. If you can make restitution, do it. Do what you do and then close the door behind it. Analyze. Look at your heart. Ask yourself, “Why am I cast down?”
Share with someone how God has worked in your life in a moment when you were downcast.
Just as plants need certain essentials to grow—light, water, and fertile soil—so do new Christians, babes in the faith. Without these essential basic truths of the faith, they will never establish strong roots or bear fruit. What Every Christian Ought to Know is a valuable volume for new Christians and young disciples and a suitably instructive resource for believers of all ages. This new paperback edition includes discussion questions for personal reflection or group study.