THURSDAY, APRIL 19, 2012
Psalms of the Troubled Soul
“I’m scared.” “I feel alone.” “I am struggling with doubt.” “I feel separated from God.” “People who don’t even think about God are getting ahead of me.”
These sentences above, or at least the sense thereof, represent feelings that appear in the Psalms, the collection of songs that mark the middle of the Bible. The Psalms represent a great variety of topics, ranging from deep sorrow to great joy and from lament to praise. They portray the richness of the human heart and the experience of a believer in a dark world. While written more than 2,000 years ago, the thoughts expressed therein are still as poignant today as any song we might hear on the radio.
We begin with songs of a troubled soul. Psalm 6 shows the raw emotion as David wrestles with his enemies: “My soul is in anguish./ How long, O Lord, how long?” He asks for deliverance, remarking that “no one remembers you when he is dead./ Who praises you from the grave?” His anguish brings him fatigue, too: “I am worn out from groaning;/ all night long I flood my bed with weeping/ and drench my couch with tears./ My eyes grow weak with sorrow;/ they fail because of all my foes.” David does not portray himself as entirely put-together, but He does show God as merciful and just.
One way that the Enemy attacks us is through isolation: feeling that we alone are to suffer. Certainly, the presence, support, and encouragement of loved ones are key ingredients for overcoming our struggles. Yet, we will fail to have true victory over the Enemy’s attacks apart from trusting wholly in God. As Hudson Taylor wrote, “they who trust Him wholly find Him wholly true.”
We cannot completely trust in God without sharing our struggles with Him openly. Often, we are in bondage because of our inability to put our fingers on the struggles we are having. We may ask the Lord, “Why do I feel down today? What should I learn from this tough situation?” By defining our struggles, we can lay them before the Lord and, like David, seek restoration. A great myth of the Enemy is trying to convince us that “strong Christians don’t have struggles.” This is patently false, as Paul explains in 2 Timothy 3:12: “In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted... “
Furthermore, especially for men, the Psalms indicate that God has indeed wired us with wide-ranging emotions, and, through reflecting on their sources and God’s sovereignty and love, we may channel these emotions to the glory and praise of our Father. Many times, our struggles lead us to simple “Why?” questions, not seeing immediate value to life’s predicaments. Still, we remember the testimony of Scriptures, where Hebrews 12:7–11 explains: “Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live! Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.”
In our struggles, we may find ourselves in despair and depression. While it is natural to find yourself in such a state, please understand that God does not wish His children to stay there. I am not advocating a simple abandonment to “happiness” and ignorance towards true challenges. Instead, Scripture details that we ought to find our strength in “the joy of the Lord.” (Nehemiah 8:10) We also understand that the Evil One uses our depressive feelings to trap us in an unproductive and self-defeating place: “He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” (John 8:44) Satan wishes to destroy all that is God’s, including us, through depression or any other means. Paul offers a helpful test as we face sorrow, encouraging us to consider the source: “Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.” (2 Corinthians 7:10) God may legitimately use our sorrow (as in David’s case in His repentance after his sin with Bathsheba) to draw us to Himself, so we must seek God’s wisdom in the face of sorrow to understand His purpose for it.
Along with the Psalmists, allow your emotions to give glory to God. When you are scared, share that with the Lord, and ask for His comfort. When you feel alone, ask for His dear presence. Remember that, above all things, God desires our hearts and wants to be close to us. May you find strength in knowing of God’s provision:
“Even though I walk
through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.” (Psalm 23:4)
QUESTIONS
- How do you feel today? How can these feelings draw you closer to the Lord?
- In what ways are you vulnerable to spiritual attack? What forms might these take?
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