“Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God. ‭‭Psalm‬ ‭42:11 ‭ESV‬‬

I don’t know about you, but sometimes my soul does get “downcast.”  Other words that describe this state are – dejected, sad, depressed, discouraged, and disappointed. 

I think we all have those days. How do we rise above those feelings?  How do we get our soul (mind, will, and emotions) to leave the position of being “cast down” to one of being “uplifted?”

Have you ever thought about speaking to your soul?  This is what is happening in this passage of scripture. If you are someone who has ever engaged in “talking to yourself” – you now know that it is scriptural!!  😃

As we read this verse, we see that the solution to the soul’s downcast state is to hope in God, praise Him, and to remember who He is – our salvation and God!

Sometimes we need to remind ourselves (speak to our souls) of God’s goodness and how we should respond to Him. As we move our attention from ourselves to God Almighty, our feelings of depression and discouragement begin to fall away. 

Oh my soul, why are you discouraged? Jesus is my salvation and Lord! The Lord loves me. He is faithful, strong, and true! He is my Rock and my Redeemer! Oh my soul, why are you cast down within me? By day the LORD commands his steadfast love, and at night his song is with me! Oh my soul! Hope in God! Even in my discouragement, yet will I praise Him!

As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God… Psalm 42:1-2

~~Tina Roach