Day 1 · Hope When You're Discouraged
When Your Soul Is Downcast
“Why are you in despair, my soul? Why are you disturbed within me? Hope in God! For I shall still praise him, the saving help of my countenance, and my God.”Psalm 42:11
Reflection
Discouragement is not a failure of faith; even the psalmist felt his soul sink. What he does is striking — he speaks to his own soul, neither denying the sadness nor obeying it. He turns, gently and stubbornly, back toward God: hope in God. We can do the same: tell God honestly how low we feel, and then aim our hearts, however slowly, toward Him.
A prayer
Lord, I will not pretend with You. My heart feels heavy, and hope feels far away. Thank You that I can bring this honestly, without tidying it up. Like the psalmist, I choose — even now, even weakly — to hope in You. Be the lifter of my head. Hold me until I can feel again what I still believe: that You are my God, and You are good. Amen.
Carry this with you
Can you tell God honestly how discouraged you feel, and then speak one word of hope back to your own soul?