Minute Meditations

”Why art thou cast down, O my soul?” asks David. He was just like us. He had his moments of joy and elation when he danced before the Lord with all his might but he also had times when he was so discouraged he didn’t know what to do.

Perhaps if we see how David and other faithful men of God reacted when they had the ”blues” we can learn to cope with our times of depression as they did. David turned his thoughts to God when he was cast down. He, like us, could sit down and count his blessings and realize that he shouldn’t be discouraged but nevertheless he was, so he asked himself this question, ”Why am I so cast down? What can I do to get up again?” It is good to notice that David properly assessed his feelings. He was discouraged. He freely admits this to himself and to God for he said ”O my God, my soul is cast down within me.” The first step to curing any illness is to recognize it exists and face it squarely. They say no alcoholic can be helped until he admits that he is indeed an alcoholic. Well, David admitted he was discouraged but he did not stop there for that in itself will not cure it.

David then turned to God for help. He records his thoughts for our benefit. He tells himself, ”Hope in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.” It is interesting to remember that at this particular time David was sick in bed. (Psalms 41, 42 and 43) When we are sick it is particularly easy to become discouraged but the ”blues” can strike at any time and those who are physically well also have to learn to cope with them.

When discouraged the thing to do is turn to God. Read the Bible. Pray fervently. It will change things. It did for David. It did for Jacob. Speaking of being ”down in the dumps” we can hardly imagine anyone being more down than Jonah and look what he did while in the belly of the whale. He prayed to God, but notice his prayer. He quoted from several Psalms as well as Ecclesiastes. Now what does this tell us? It tells us that Jonah had not only read his Bible, he had memorized much of it and could call it to mind. Obviously Jonah did not have a Bible in his hand when he was swallowed by the whale and even if he had it would have been too dark ta read it where he was.

We cannot always have a Bible in our hand either but if we have recorded its beautiful messages in our mind then we can call them up at will to help us in our times of trouble.

We don’t know if Jesus took his scrolls with him when he went into the wilderness but we can be sure that his response to the temptations he endured were right from his mind. He did not have to stop and look up Deuteronomy 6:16 to say ”It is written thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.”

We can see why Mary was chosen to be the mother of the Lord Jesus Christ when we observe that in one little short talk that she made as she entered the house of Elizabeth, she quoted from five different Psalms as well as Malachi, Ezekiel and First Samuel. She could only do this because she memorized these passages and could call them to mind at will.

If we commit comforting Bible verses to memory we too can recall them at a moment’s notice when we are in trouble or cast down and it will lift us up again. It is not a new thought but it may be one we have not been practicing. Like all good ideas, this will work only if we do. Let us daily fill our minds with Godly thoughts we can draw upon at a moment’s notice. The next time our mind churns from anxiety and tension just remember Isaiah 26:3,4. If we don’t know what that says, find out. Its soothing words can change our lives.