Whenever you’re feeling down, the Psalms are an excellent source of comfort and encouragement. In Psalm 42:5-11, the psalmist shares how God offers comfort to you, His child, in hard times. To receive it, you should …
• Look within. Before you can deal with despair, you need to know what is causing it. If you’re not sure, ask the Lord to help you figure out what’s going on.
• Look up. The next step is to lift your eyes to the Lord and place your hope in Him. Remember, discouragement comes to everybody at one time or another, but it should not be permanent.
• Look back. Despair has a way of making you forget all the good things God has done over the years. Recalling His past care and provision helps to overpower discouragement.
• Look ahead. Knowing that the Lord’s plans are good, you can look forward to what He is going to do in the future. His lovingkindness will support you by day and bring comfort by night.
To overcome discouragement, fixing your focus on the Lord is key. His Word promises that He walks with you through the valley. Remember, even if you feel disheartened, you are never alone.
And that’s the memo.
By InTouch Ministries
