Daily Encouragementنموونە

There is encouragement in knowing that the godly are sometimes discouraged! such is the case here, and in the following psalm. These are the words of a man who “thirsts for God, for the living God” and whose depression is deepened by the memory of going with the multitude to the house of God, where he took a leading part. Spiritual giants as well as their weaker brethren can become downcast. The great preacher C. H. Spurgeon prayed that his people might not experience the depths of depression to which he was prone.

The godly face their discouragement. They take themselves in hand. To talk to oneself as the Psalmist does here is a sign of spiritual maturity: “Why are you downcast, O my soul?” In the long run only the spiritual man can face himself without any kind of blinkers. He can do so because he is not alone as he does it, but is in the presence of God.

The godly encourage themselves in the Lord. The Rock which stands in every storm is God. They put their hope in him - in his love, his light, his truth. In the night they sing his songs and so anticipate the dawn: “I will yet praise him, my Saviour and my God.”