Uplook for the Downcast - A Look a Psalms 42 and 43 by Warren Wiersbe

Uplook for the Downcast - A Look a Psalms 42 and 43 by Warren Wiersbe
Emotional depression has rapidly become a major health problem, not only among adults1 but even among children and teenagers. It is reported that there are two thousand suicides a day around the world, and many of these are caused by depression. More than four million people In the United States each year need special medical attention be-cause of severe depression.

In my pastoral ministry, I have learned that even Christians are not immune to this affliction. Our enemy, Satan, wants to discourage us in every way possible and our having to live in a hostile world does not make the situation easier. Often, discouraged Christians add to their problems by feeling guilty because they are depressed. They need to remember that even great men of God like Moses, Elijah, and Jeremiah bad times of discouragement mid seeming defeat

One thing is certain: as Christians we have divine resources available that the world cannot we or even understand. When unsaved people are discouraged or depressed, they often resort to various means of escape-drugs, alcohol, entertainment-but then discover that they have not really escaped themselves! When the show is over or the 'high" Is ended, they are worse off than before. Their 'escape' Only forges another link in the chains that imprison

We really do not know who wrote these two very personal psalms, but, whoever he was, he certainly was discouraged! Some students think that David penned these psalms during the time his son Absalom led a revolution against him (2 San. 14-18). However the geography mentioned in Psalm 42:6 does not parallel David's experience and the word translated 'nation' in 45:1 is the usual word for Gentiles. As you read these two psalms, you learn that the writer was being taunted by the enemy, "Where is thy God?" (42:3,10) and this was not David's experience. It makes little difference who wrote the psalms or what his personal situation was. What is Important is that the psalms help point the way to victory over discouragement and depression. From his own experience, the writer says to us "If you want to overcome depression, then you must make some radical changes in your outlook on life"

Meet Warren Wiersbe at our fall 2003 Bible Conference!