Why So Downcast?

 A perusal of world events can leave a soul downcast. It appears another world war could break out at anytime. The government is shut down again because politicians cannot see eye to eye. Ideologies clash leaving society fractured. Prices keep increasing while some are getting left behind and cannot keep up financially no matter how hard they work. Some have declared war on Christians with whole villages getting destroyed.  On top of all this is the mounting spiritual warfare on parents trying to raise God fearing and Bible believing Christians. It is enough to discourage the stoutest of heart. 

What has you downcast today? The death of a parent, spouse, child, or friend. We got news that a beloved neighbor we had in the Runaway Bay community died yesterday. His wife relayed how the last two years of his life he was rarely at home dealing with multiple health issues that kept him in the hospital. The death knoll knocks for each of us on this side of eternity. 

Maybe you deal with wayward children or grandchildren. Their rebellion and defiance break your heart. They reject the Bible truth they were taught when younger and chase after sins that will never satisfy. Tears soak pillow cases at night as fervent prayers are lifted on behalf of the prodigal. Parents grope through days and nights of weeping longing for the joy that has eluded them in the morning. 

There are many who deal with sickness or caring for someone battling disease. Healing may be slow in coming if it comes at all. There are those who experience the steady decline in health no matter the treatments or prayer sessions. It is easy to get downcast and to lose hope. 

To all of these and more I point you to {Psalm 42:11]. The questions is asked why so downcast? You have your reasons and crisis. Hope in God. The word hope there means to expect good. Many lost hope in God because they feel God failed them in a critical time. The healing did not come. The prodigal did not return. The provision never arrived. The fractured relationship never got restored. The soldier on the battlefield did not return alive. It may appear God failed you. 

Where else will you find hope? Sexual immorality? Substance abuse leading to addiction? Walking away from God and His people in bitterness? How is any of that working for you? Is is producing hope? This world is just a shadow of what is to come. It is all temporary. God is eternal and offers eternity with Him for those who repent of sin and turn to Jesus for salvation. There is hope in that. There is the hope of heaven. There is the hope of abundant life promised by Messiah. No matter how life crushes there is hope with God. Sometimes we just have to worship our way through the hard times. Paul and Silas did in [Acts 16:25]. Lift up another hallelujah, another triumphant shout proclaiming better days by faith. 

I've trod the dark nights of weeping and have lived long enough to see the joy that comes in the morning eventually. I have cast mountains of burdens on God. He has sustained me through devastating seasons of crushing defeat. He has pulled me from the pit of despair. He has delivered me from the dungeon of depression. He can do the same for you. He is faithful. Find a reason to worship Him and keep singing at midnight. Trust Him in the darkness and harshness of life. Cling to Him and bring Him your battered, bruised and broken heart. He will give you reason to hope in Him once again.