Why, My Soul?

A depressed soul is a difficult state to be in. We find it hard to be happy, to find any joy in life. We struggle with menial tasks that on any other day would be easy. A depressed soul is gloomy. It’s a dark state where our minds tell us there is no hope. We avoid interacting with others. We sit around in our downcast mood, hoping to get through another day. Then when the next day comes we start all over again. Nothing has changed. But there is hope. There is something we can do to help us crawl out of our dark pit and back into the light of day. In Psalm 42, the Psalmist gives us a way to lift our spirit.

“Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God” (Psalm 42:5). Notice what the Psalmist does first? He questions why his soul is downcast. There is always a reason for our depression. Yes, some depression is the result of a chemical imbalance in our brain. However, there are ways to correct this imbalance, medication being one of them. But what triggered us to fall into a depressive mood. Knowing the answer can help us lift our mood. Things happen during our day that can set us on a trajectory toward a downcast soul. Some are of our own doing, some the doing of ours. When we identify the why, we can examine it to determine if it’s true or a lie. So we ask the question, “Why, my soul, are you downcast?” This is the beginning of a brighter day. It will not be easy, but if we start with asking God to open our eyes we will be better equipped to find what we are looking for.

The Psalmist then tells his soul to put his hope in God. He knew the way out of his depression was to look up. To hope in the one who created and sustains all things. Our soul can find hope in God. However, when in the throes of depression we must make a conscious effort to lift our soul to God. We must decide to take this step and start hoping in God. After we make this decision we praise God. I know how difficult it can be to praise anyone when we are depressed, but we must. My soul has been lifted many times when I have praised God in the midst of my depression. Music is good for the soul. Christian music is really good for the soul. I have found the listening to Christian music helps me out of my depression. It sets our mind on God and we begin to praise Him through the music. Research shows that positivity can change our mood. When we think positively we feel better. Dr. Amen has several books on the subjects. He has spent years learning about the brain through imaging. He’s one of the leading experts on the brain. Praising God is a wonderful way to think positively. Reading our Bible, praying, meditating on Jesus, and singing to Him are all positive.

We can sit in our downcast soul and be miserable, or we can praise God and find our way out of our dark state of depression. We get to choose the direction. Let us praise God.