Category: Why Am I Down?

Psalm 63:1-8

1 You, God, are my God,
earnestly I seek you;
I thirst for you,
my whole being longs for you,
in a dry and parched land
where there is no water.
2 I have seen you in the sanctuary
and beheld your power and your glory.
3 Because your love is better than life,
my lips will glorify you.
4 I will praise you as long as I live,
and in your name I will lift up my hands.
5 I will be fully satisfied as with the richest of foods;
with singing lips my mouth will praise you.
6 On my bed I remember you;
I think of you through the watches of the night.
7 Because you are my help,
I sing in the shadow of your wings.
8 I cling to you;
your right hand upholds me.

1 – What similarities do you notice between Psalms 42-43 and Psalm 63?

2 – List the responses of the psalmists in the dark of night in Psalm 63:6-8 and Psalm 42:8.

3 – List the things that God does in these same verses.

Prayer – Lord, thank you for the command of your love, your song, your help, and that you uphold me and hide me in the shadow of your wings. As one who is loved and sheltered by You, I will sing! I will worship. I remember you, I cling to you, and I pray to you.

Let us do so in prayer and in song with – It is Well (click here) by Matt Redman.

-BR

Hosea 7:14, 16
14 They do not cry out to me from their hearts
but wail on their beds…
16 They do not turn to the Most High…

“…there are choices… There is no such thing as not choosing because ‘not choosing’ is one of the paths. It, too, is a choice. Your decision is between calling out to the Lord or not. This is the choice that has confronted those in misery throughout history… You can sit in silence or cry to the Lord. You can cry on your bed or cry to the Lord.” (Depression – Looking up from the Stubborn Darkness by Edward T. Welch, p. 42-43)

Romans 8:15
15 The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.”

1 – What have been some of your wrong “therefore’s” when you are downcast?

2 – What steps can you take today that will help you better respond to the Spirit and cry out to God in your times of need?

Father, forgive us for the times we have wailed on our beds but not cried out to you. We call to you, asking for your forgiveness and help. Help us ever turn to you. Thank you for your Spirit, enabling us. Thank you that you hear us, welcome us, and sing your song of love over us.

We can cry out to God for help and worship with this song, Strength of My Life, (click here) by Vertical Worship.

-BR

Psalm 42:8
By day the Lord commands his steadfast love,
and at night his song is with me,
a prayer to the God of my life.

“Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever.”
Westminster Shorter Catechism, Question 1

God is always with His people. He is with us in the bright of day, when His love and plans seem clear and bright upon us. And He is with us in the dark of night, when it is harder to see.

How is He with us in the night? He is there with a song. God is our Father, and like a parent with a frightened child, He sings over us. God is our worship leader too, and He is giving us the very words to sing to Him.

1 – Today, do you feel like it is “day” or “night” in your life?

2a – If it feels like “day,” how can you respond to Psalm 42:8?

2b – If it feels like “night,” how can you respond to Psalm 42:8?

God, thank you that you command your steadfast love in the day. Help me to walk in obedience to You and Your way of love. Thank you, Lord, that you are with me in the night. Teach me to sing and pray in every season, bringing glory to and enjoying You.

Today, let’s worship God with a song that we sense that He is giving to us.

If you need them, below are a couple of suggestions from AMC’s Sunday worship –

God, you’re so good (click here) by Passion.

At the Cross (click here) by Chris Tomlin.

Love Knows No End (click here) by Hillsong.

– BR

Psalm 43:3
3 Send out your light and your truth;
let them lead me;
let them bring me to your holy hill
and to your dwelling!

The words of Jesus:
“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12)
“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6)

1 – How has God sent light to the whole world? What are the results of that light according to these passages?

2 – How has God sent truth to the world? What are the results of that truth according to these passages?

3 – How have you experienced and responded to the light and truth of God in Jesus Christ?

4 – How can you respond to Jesus today?

5 – Who can you pray for today, that the light and truth of Jesus would shine upon them?

Father, thank you that you have sent light and truth to the world in your Son. Let your light shine afresh on me and my church today. Let the truth of Jesus fill our hearts and minds today. Fill us with your Spirit to follow and to worship You. Send forth your light and your truth today through your church as we live in this world.

Today, we can worship with this song – Where Would We be (click here) by Matt Redman.

-BR

Psalm 42:5
Why, my soul, are you downcast?
Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
for I will yet praise him,
my Savior and my God.

Proverbs 13:12
Hope deferred makes the heart sick…

When we are downcast, it is important to ask ourselves why. Before we knew Christ, there was no true resolution for a downcast or sick heart. But in Christ, we can ask this question because there is real resolution, found in our true hope and purpose of worshipping God.

Think through the below questions, either for today (if you are currently feeling down), or for a time that you tend to struggle with feeling down or disturbed within your soul.

1 – Why am I downcast?

2 – What was I hoping for?

3 – Is this hope something that is fulfilled in kingdom of God?

4a – If not, what does God call me to hope for instead? Let us turn in prayer and place our hope in Him.

4b – If this hope is something of God’s kingdom, how am I to put my hope in God rightly, fresh and new? What things of His kingdom might He want to bring about in me while I wait in hope? Let us turn in prayer and cry out to Him for His kingdom to come, placing our hopeful desire in God – that we will yet praise Him, our savior and our God.

We can declare our hope in God with this song – Living Hope (click here) by Phil Wickham.

-BR