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. Psalms 42:5
When one’s soul is cast down, you can almost see it physically. The word that is used in the original Hebrew text here means, “To sink, depress, bow down, be brought low, to stoop.” In other words, it is like carrying around a very heavy load weighing so heavily on the soul that it even manifests in the person’s physical demeanor.
What help is there when it seems the weight of the world is on your shoulders? The answer is always the same, no matter what the particulars of the situation might be — the Lord is your helper. That might seem to be a simple answer to very complex circumstances until you consider that it is He who has made you and everything in the world.
It is helpful to consider how many times Jesus spoke peace to His disciples when they found themselves in dire straits. How about being storm-tossed and surely about to drown, that could get you cast down couldn’t it? Or, to have been with Jesus and see Him led away to be crucified and then to lay His body in a tomb with no hope of ever seeing Him again.
So, why would Jesus always be speaking peace when it seemed that there was no peace to be found in this world? Because He could see beyond what can be seen. Because He knows the awesome power of our Heavenly Father. Because He knows the plans the Father has for His children, and they are all good!
Just ignoring a burden doesn’t make it go away. Pretending a matter does not need attention does not change the situation. But, as a child of God, there is always something you can do to get your countenance lifted back up and shake off those heavy burdens. Bring them to the Lord. It’s not that He does not know what you are going through or the weight that you feel bringing you down, it’s just that you have a free will and can choose to bear the burden alone or call upon Him for help.
Just as a child many times will try to do things on their own which should have the assistance of others who are ready, willing and able to help, so we sometimes take on things that were never meant to be borne upon our own shoulders. Jesus is calling today; come to Him with your burdens and lay them down.
Think of all Jesus suffered while He was on this earth. None of it was because He was guilty of any wrongdoing; it was all for you, and for whosoever will come to Him. So, as the Psalmist exhorts his own soul, it’s time to do the same. Put your hope in God and praise Him for what He is going to do.
And how do you know what He is going to do when He hasn’t done it yet? He tells you in His Word. Your countenance will be lifted up (as well as those heavy burdens on your shoulders) when you meditate on the Word of God and His promises to you. Begin to speak those promises over your life and you will soon be saying, “Why are you cast down?”
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