Are you down?

Seems like lots of people are down these days. It makes sense because there are many things to get down about. What doesn’t make sense is the idea that, no matter what we go through, we really don’t have to be downcast. Let’s face it, being down comes naturally, is our norm in bad times, and has become a way of life.

After all when things are not going well, it makes sense to ride the emotion of the negative rip curling wave that takes us down, down, down….to an undertow that overpowers us.

When I was a teen and lived by the beach, hanging out in the ocean for hours was the daily norm. But one day something untypical happened. The ocean seemed to take me out much further than ever before.  I didn’t realize it at first, but once I realized what was happening I was out way too far, and with every minute I kept getting swept farther and farther out. Before long I was past the pier and knew that if I did not get help, I would be in trouble. Thankfully my friends who were sunning and reading their Teen Magazines became concerned and got a lifeguard.  Within minutes I was rescued from going under.

That was many years ago, but the idea of getting pulled out into dangerous and deep waters is still scary to me. In our daily life it happens as innocently and quickly as  that day at the beach. Little by little the things that get us down pull us out into a place of doubt, fear, and sometimes panic.  Some of us get very close to drowning in our doubt.

King David knew about doubt, discouragement and almost drowning in the hardships of life. We read in the Psalms, over and over, how David was always pulling his heart and mind back to WHO God is.

Today’s Truth: Psalm 42:5,8

“Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God. My soul is downcast within me, therefore I will remember you…By the day the Lord directs his love, at night his song is with me…a prayer to the God of my life.”

Do you need to pull yourself back to WHO God is today?

Are you downcast with many troubles racing through your head and the concern and anxiety destroying your days? What did David do?

David admitted to himself the condition of his emotional state. Then he challenged himself with a question…Why? Why am I so disturbed? Why does everything seem black? And, then he did something very important. After a good hard look and a challenge to his beliefs…he remembered God. He began then to focus on what God was doing for Him, rather than what was black in his life. Maybe we can learn a thing or two from this example.

Today’s Prayer

Father, I have been downcast. And, when I ask myself WHY, I come up with a list of things that make me go to a very dark place. In this place I feel I can drown, but Lord, you haven’t changed. It feels you have, but you haven’t. So help me to redirect my focus and gaze to the faithful God that you are. You are the God of my life, and I want no other Gods before you. Help me to remember WHO you are in the midst of normal irritating days, not just in the beauty of the days of blessing. I want to know you in all things.

Jesus is our Life Guard!