"Why Are You Cast Down, O My Soul"

Three times in Psalm 42, David asks himself, "Why are you cast down, oh my soul?" To be "cast down" originates from the root word "immersion." Essentially, David is asking, Why are you immersed in sorrow?

Repeatedly in the Psalms, David engages in dialogue with his soul: his mind, will, and emotions. David faced tremendous stress, hiding in a cave because his son was trying to kill him. He was isolated from his friends and unable to go to the house of God to worship.

Consider the feeling of being unable to move about freely due to danger. Consider the experience of having no cellphone, with no ability to call or text family and friends. Completely cut off, yet David had learned how to speak to his soul.

What does "speak to your soul" mean? It's all about practicing intentional thinking and speaking in challenging situations instead of letting your emotions dictate the outcome.

I heard someone say, "Don't let your day happen to you...You command your day." I love that.

When I first became a widow, my emotions ruled my life. I felt incredibly alone. But was I truly alone? Yes, my husband was no longer present, but God was with me. I needed to speak to my soul like David: "Why are you cast down, O my soul? The Lord has promised that He will never leave me nor forsake me." As I learned to do that, the truth of God's Word gradually took precedence over my feelings. I still missed my husband, but I was able to move forward, no longer immersed in grief.

In Psalm 40:17, David says, "I am poor and needy" (his honest feelings), but he didn't stay there. He continued with the truth: "...YET, the Lord thinketh about me." The word "thinketh" means to interpenetrate, to regard, to consider, and weave, like a cunning craftsman. David answered the cry of his heart with the truth. God is life, and when He thinks about us, LIFE is being woven into our hearts.

When I was diagnosed with cancer, I experienced a level of fear like never before. I had overwhelming thoughts of painful treatments and death. It was all-consuming at first. I needed to speak to my soul. I had to answer the fear in my heart with the truth: "God will NOT leave me. I will NOT walk through this alone. He is my healer, my deliverer, and by His stripes I AM the healed NOT the dying.

No matter what you’re facing that might be making your heart feel "Cast down," take a moment to think about how you could speak to your soul just like David did. Don't let fear consume you. Instead, stand strong in the Lord’s strength and confidently declare, "No, fear! You will not have me. I will hope in God.

I hope this encourages you. God bless you, Marji Stevens

Here is my new mini-book: Finding the Spark of Hope