This Day in History: 0000-04-02

April 2 – Psalms 42: 1-11

As the deer longs for streams of water, so I long for You, oh God. When can I go and stand before Him? Day and night, I have only tears for food, while my enemies continually taunt me, saying, “Where is this God of yours?”
My heart is breaking as I remember how it used to be: I walked among the crowds of worshipers, leading a procession to the house of God, singing for joy and giving thanks amid the sound of a great celebration!
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!
Now I am deeply discouraged, but I will remember you – even from distant Mount Hermon, the source of the Jordan, from the land of Mount Mizar. I hear the tumult of the raging seas as your waves and surging tides sweep over me. But each day the Lord pours His unfailing love upon me, and through each night I sing His songs, praying to God who gives me life.
“Oh God my Rock,” I cry, “Why have you forgotten me? Why must I wander around in grief, oppressed by my enemies?” Their taunts break my bones. They scoff, “where is this God of yours?”
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!

Surly some of us needed to read this passage today! I feel certain some of us needed to know we’re not alone in feeling abandoned by our God. Surly it is an encouragement for us to hear that this trial is as old as time itself, plaguing the followers of God from ancient times.

Can you relate to the Psalmist? Do you have memories of days gone by when you felt happy in your relationship with God? Do you look back with longing on a time when you lifted your praises to Him with unhindered joy? Do you find yourself deeply discouraged, as the waves of grief or discouragement sweep over you causing you to feel that God is distant? Do you pant with longing for His presence once again, as a deer pants for streams of life-giving water?

My friends, though the enemy wants to isolate us, though he seeks to fill us with doubts surrounding God and His faithfulness and love, and then turn around and taunt us with feelings of inadequacy for those very doubts – we have everything we need to stop him where he stands! We do not have to listen to his lies! We do not have to give him a voice.

We are the greatest treasure of the Lord of Lords! Even when it doesn’t feel like it, He pours out His unfailing love on us day and night. Let’s make the choice to believe it, even when it doesn’t feel true. Let’s sing again our praises to Him and pour out our prayers to Him day and night. When the enemy begins to whisper doubts into our minds, let’s stop him dead in his tracks and proclaim with resolve,

“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!”