Depression: Will This Darkness Ever End?
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Greg Waybright
- Psalm 42 & Psalm 43
- Heart Cries
- 38 mins 13 secs
- Views: 2002
Community Study
Notes for Teacher/Facilitator
Psalm 42 expresses the sentiment of someone who is unable to worship God corporately at the temple. We don’t know the reason (illness, distance, enemies, etc.) but we do know that most ancient Israelites would not have been able to visit the temple as often as they would have liked. Thus, almost everyone would have been able to relate to Psalm 42. The words of distress and hope would have sounded like the heart language of so many. Fast forward to today and our culture that struggles so mightily with discouragement and depression; Psalm 42 can be a great source of comfort and encouragement for us!
Word Studies
Here are a few notes about particular words in this psalm:
- Thirsts (tsame) – v.2: Literally means to be parched, the experience of not having water for a long time. This feeling would be common for someone living in the rough and arid landscape of ancient Israel. Figuratively this word means to have a deep longing for someone or something, especially if that someone or something has been absent for some time. See also Psalm 63.1.
- Remember (zakar) – vv.4, 6: This word means bringing something to mind from the past so as to affect one’s present feelings, thoughts, and/or actions. If the thing, person, event, etc. recalled is positive, then the present impact may well be positive. If the memory is negative, it may well have a negative impact in the present. However, when one is bringing to mind a positive experience that is now out of reach for one reason or the other, the present impact could be less than positive.
- Downcast (shachach) – vv.5, 6, 11: This word literally means to bow or being bowed down, which would, of course, cause one’s eyes to be cast down as well. Figuratively it means to experience despair, to be humbled, to be weakened, etc. This is a strong and evocative word and it is almost never used of a situation characterized by passing sadness, instead it is used in situations of pervasive sorrow.
- Hope (yachal) – vv.5, 11: Literally this word means to wait. Figuratively it carries with it the idea of waiting with expectation and when we are asked to wait on God it implies that God is worth waiting on because he always comes through (in his time and in his way).
- Disturbed (hamah) – vv.5, 11: This is a very lively Hebrew word that literally means something like to growl, to roar, or to murmur. In the context of Psalm 42 we see that the psalmist is saying that his soul, which is despairing, is roaring within him. I imagine a caged, frightened, and angry animal.
- Oppressed (lachats) – v.9: Like so many Hebrew words used in the Psalms, this word has a literal meaning (to squeeze or to press) and a figurative meaning (to oppress). This is a common word in Exodus, the psalms, and the prophets as well. In Psalm 42 it is the enemy of the psalmist who is oppressing him through his unkind taunts in the midst of the psalmist’s mourning.
Introduction
- Open your class/community time with prayer. Ask the Spirit of God to reveal himself to all of you through the Scriptures and through your discussion together.
- Discuss last week’s challenge and encourage people to share how the challenge went for them.
- Discuss together why it is that our culture is so full of discouragement and depression. This will be a good jumping off point for the discussion to come.
Bible Questions
- What do our souls pant for? What do our souls thirst for? Why do you suppose that we are so tempted to pant for and thirst for just about anything other than God?
- What role does remembering the past play in your present life? Are you tempted to be very nostalgic? Or are you very tempted to forget about the past altogether? What are the pros and cons of each way of relating to the past?
- Can you relate to the psalmist’s desire to be able to worship at the temple again? Have you ever been separated from corporate worship for an extended period of time? How was that for you?
- When our souls are downcast and disturbed where do we turn? Be honest. How can we help one another turn more and more to God and his community in those times?
- In verse 7 the psalmist likens his experience of depression to waves of water threatening to drown him. Is this a good image to describe despair and depression? Why or why not?
- Why do you think the psalmist is able to place his hope in God and to yet praise him despite being very discouraged and depressed? What can we learn from his example?
Discussion Questions
- What does this psalm reveal about God that inspires us to love and worship him more?
- How can we help one another when we face discouragement and despair?
- How can we take what we know about God’s love and goodness to help those who are far from God experience some healing and hope?
Takeaway
“There is no person so far away from God that God’s loving presence cannot provide a balm to their soul.” ~Pastor Greg Waybright
Challenge
Who in your life is deeply discouraged or depressed? Find time this week to visit them, talk with them, or call them. Use your time with them to listen. Try not to step in and fix things or to give them religious answers. Instead, at the end of the conversation simply ask if you can pray for them. If you feel so bold, pray for them in that very moment, asking God to be close to them and to remind them of his great love for them.
Staff Playlist
Lake Avenue Church Staff Playlist
Below is a list of songs for times of discouragement
Study Notes
Heart Cries: Depression – Will This Darkness Ever End?
Psalms 42-43
Today, we will hear what the Bible says about a heart cry that I think all of us have at some times and to differing degrees in our lives, i.e., times of deep discouragement. On my father’s side of the family, many have dealt with clinical depression. Although, I am not personally inclined in that direction, many of those closest to me – both family members and friends – do. So, this topic is very real and personal to me.
The Song and Our Emotions -- To the choirmaster… of the Sons of Korah
Psalms 42-43, which were originally one Psalm, is the place most believers have turned when they have gone through dark times. It’s a song written to be sung in worship services. Look at the superscription before the Psalm. It was for the “sons of Korah.” These sons of Korah were a group of priests who were charged with the ministry of singing. This one is an amazing song. It speaks of times when people who love God go through dark emotional times. And the way it’s written helps you feel what the experience is like.
The song has four stanzas that speak of how discouraged the psalmist is, each of which is followed by a refrain in which the believer urges himself to trust God. Many of you probably know from personal experience that this the way that depression often hits. It comes in waves. And, when the wave hits, people who know God experience this emotional darkness and, when we do, we keep turning to God. In doing so, we often find enough relief that we are tempted to think that the depression will never return. But, in this imperfect world, all-too-often, it does. The rhythm of this great Psalm captures that.
Listen carefully to me now: Some churchgoers seem to think that this kind of depression is something that no strong believer could ever experience. But, the Bible doesn’t support that.
- Moses went through this depression in Numbers 11:15 when the people were complaining about his leadership. He said to God, “Why don’t you just kill me at once?”
- David went through it after his son’s death in 2 Samuel 18.
- Job went through depression and wanted to die in the midst of all his afflictions in Job 3:1-11.
- Elijah went through a deep depression even after a great victory in 1 Kings 19.
And, of course, we dare never forget how Jesus, the one who is fully God and fully human, expressed his emotional state as he faced the fact that he would have to bear the punishment for the sins of the world: “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death (Mt 26:38).
These were not people of weak faith. They are people living in a world filled with sorrow and pain. This great song in Psalm 42-43 expresses what people feel in this fallen world. And, it also teaches us how to live.
The Song and Our Minds -- A Maskil
Look again at the superscription. You’ll see it’s called a “maskil”. That word comes from a Hebrew verb that means to make someone wise, or to instruct. So, a maskil is a song that instructs. So, this song is for our hearts and for our minds. God inspired this part of his Word both to help shape what your mind should think in times of darkness as well as to shape what your heart feels. When you immerse yourself in this Psalm, it should help you “think and feel with God.” That’s what I am praying this message will help you to do.
The Triggers
The problem the Psalmist confesses three times is that he is “downcast” (42:5,11; 43:5). It’s a strong word. It means that he feels that like he will collapse; he’s about to fall apart; he has nothing left. Have you ever felt that way?
Now, notice this: The Psalmist isn’t downcast because he is suffering or in great pain. There are other Psalms about that. And, the problem isn’t that he feels shame or guilt for a sin he has committed. It has become clear to me over the years that there are times when we who love God are doing what God would have us to do and still this kind of darkness of soul comes upon us.
So, look at what triggered his depression as he expressed it in the song:
Trigger #1: Rhythms of worship and fellowship out of sync – I remember how I would… go to the house of God with glad shouts and songs of praise. (42:4)
The Psalmist wrote this song when he was away from his home worshipping community. See v.4: He missed going to worship. He missed singing with God’s people. Sometimes, when depression hit, you just don’t feel the energy to go to church or to your small group. But, this may be the the thing you most need. Why? – because you have been made by God to grow in Christ-centered, Bible-grounded community. Living in a world in which many reject God, worship and fellowship gives that regular motivation to put God at the center of your life. When you miss worship, things get out of sync. An emptiness inside grows.
Trigger #2: Ongoing spiritual attacks on his faith – My adversaries taunt me while they say to me all day long, “Where is your God?” (42:10)
Many of you have spoken to me about how hard it is to be day-by-day in a place in which people mock your faith. That’s might be your work place or school – or when you are the only Christian in your family. For the Psalmist, this combination of not worshipping regularly with his church people and being surrounded by those antagonistic to his faith just about did him in.
Trigger #3: Rhythms of life out of sync – My tears have been my food day and night. (42:3)
The words in 42:3 and other things the Psalmist writes in his song show that he wasn’t sleeping and eating well. He had no nourishment and no rest so that all he feels like doing is crying. Some Christians tend to think that when discouragement comes, all you should do is pray and go to church. Those are, indeed, important things to do. However, God made us as physical, emotional, relational and spiritual beings. All those parts of us make up the one person we are. What we do physically, emotionally and intellectually affects every other part of our lives – including our spiritual lives. I see that truth expressed in this song. Because of that, sometimes we have to deal with the physical conditions in our lives in order to deal better with the spiritual condition. As I said in my message about anxiety a few weeks ago, sometimes that help comes through good counseling and appropriate medications.
An example of this is what happens with Elijah when he was depressed in 1 Kings 19. After a stupendous and miraculous victory over the Prophets of Baal in ch.18, Elijah went into a deep depression and headed out into a wilderness. He wanted to die. So, God sent an angel to him to help him and guide him. Do you know the first thing the angel did? Did he tell Elijah to pray more? To listen to more of Pastor Waybright’s sermons? No! The angel cooked him a meal and told him to eat. Then, the angel let him sleep. Then he cooked Elijah another meal and told him to eat again. And the Bible says, “Elijah got up and ate and drank. Strengthened by that food, he traveled forty days and forty nights until he reached the mountain of God.” (1 Kings 19:8).
The Foundational Trigger: God seemed far away. As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God. (42:1)
When depression hits, as much as there is wisdom and help in disciplining yourself to have good eating habits and sleeping patterns, or of having good medicines and personal counseling, the foundational need of every human being is to be in a genuine and close relationship to God. Knowing God is as essential to your inner being as water is to your body. Do you believe that?
When we are young, we often fool ourselves into thinking that there must be something in this world that can fill that thirst for God. We think, “If I can just get into the best university… If I can get on with the best firm… If I can marry that wonderful person I’m attracted to…” then my joy will return. And all those things are wonderful. But, you and I are made for more than anything in this world can satisfy. As Solomon said in Ecclesiastes 3:11, “God has set eternity in the human heart.” Great dining -- world travel -- better jobs -- even good human relationships cannot take God’s place. St. Augustine put it so well in his Confessions: “You have made us for yourself, and our hearts are restless, until they can find rest in you.”
Of course, this Psalmist did know God and still he went through dark times. Let me tell you: Even for us as believers, when we go through dark times, the greatest need we have is to have the assurance that God is with us. This entire Psalm shows us how a man who loves God but feels, at times, that God is far away goes about seeking to experience the reality of God in his heart again. What does he do? When I read this song, I make note of some things that I and many others have found to be helpful. I pray that you might as well.
What Does the Psalmist Do While in the Darkness?
#1: He prays when he doesn’t feel like it – I pour out my soul… Why have you forgotten me? (42:4,9)
The Psalmist does this not just once – but four times (42:9; 43:2). This is evidence of a true and honest relationship. For him, prayer was not simply reciting prescribed words. No, this man knew God and he talked with God about what was on his heart. N 42:9, he says, “God, why have you forgotten me?” I’m sure he knew God had not forsaken him. In fact, he had just said in v. 8, “By day the LORD directs his steadfast love toward me, and at night his song is with me.” What he means is that, in that moment, he feels as if God has forgotten him. And he tells god honestly what he feels.
In this, I urge you to keep praying even when you don’t feel like it. Tell him you don’t understand. Tell him he seems far away. What I find happens is that it’s a lot like opening my eyes in the middle of the night. At first, you can’t see anything – but then your eyes being to adjust. You begin – just begin – to see. In dark times, open your eyes and fix them on God in prayer. It’s sometimes hard to do but, I will tell you, it is a step forward. Learn to pour out your soul to God in prayer as the Psalmist did.
#2: He affirms God loves him when he doesn’t feel it. By day the LORD directs his steadfast love. (42:8)
In v.4, he remembers experiencing God’s presence in his life in the past. I think you should note that much of what he experienced of God’s love, he experienced in the community of people of faith. He remembers past corporate worship experiences. V. 4: “These things I remember, as I pour out my soul: how I would go with the throng and lead them in procession to the house of God with glad shouts and songs of praise.
I could say much about the importance of corporate worship in your life. Don’t take these times together in worship lightly. God means for these encounters with him in corporate worship to preserve your faith now and in the way you remember them later. And even though the Psalmist says it looks as if God has forgotten him, he never stops believing that God is with him and that God is absolutely in control over all his problems. He keeps remembering that God is god and that God loves him. Finally, when we get to 43:3-4, he begins to find a breakthrough into the light. Send me your light and your faithful care, let them lead me; let them bring me to the place where you dwell. Then I will go to the altar of God, to God, my joy and my delight, O God, my God.
#3: He sings when he doesn’t feel like it. At night his song is with me, a prayer to the God of my life. (42:8)
This is not a joy-filled Psalm. He doesn’t feel joy. This is a prayer song and pleading song — a song “to the God of my life.” That is, it’s a song in which he is pleading for his life.
But isn’t it amazing that he is singing his prayer! And this is something I have learned to do. And many of you have done this as well. I asked LAC pastors and staff this past week whether there are songs they sing when they are in dark times and within an hour I had quite a playlist. If you wonder what songs you might sing, we have the songs our LAC people are recommending on our website.
I find that music is a gift from God. Songs engage our emotions. When we sing songs expressing what we believe about God, we often find our hearts being lifted out of the darkness and into the light.
#4: He speaks truth to himself that he might not want to hear. You, God, are my stronghold… Why are you downcast, soul? Put your trust in God. (43:2,5)
Of course, you must know what God’s Word says to be true in order to do this. Throughout the song, the Psalmist takes the promises of God and speaks them to his inner being. Listen to what John Piper, a pastor who confesses to struggling with depression his whole life, says about this:
“I cannot tell you how many hundreds of times in my years as pastor I have fought back the heaviness of discouragement with these very words: “Hope in God, John. Hope in God. You will again praise him. This miserable emotion will pass. This season will pass. Don’t be downcast. Look to Jesus. The light will dawn.”
Or, you might even learn simply to pray Scripture like this from Romans 8: “Listen, self: If God is for you, who can be against you? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for you, how will he not also with him graciously give you all things? Who shall bring any charge against you as God’s child? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died — more than that, who was raised — who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for you. Who shall separate you from the love of Christ?
This Psalm is so real to life. The really remarkable thing is that at the end of the psalm, the Psalmist is trusting God – but he’s not yet fully where he wants to be. He had been through four waves of darkness before so he knew another one might come again. The last words of the song are “Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God. I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.”
Like all people of faith in the Bible, he knows God will ultimately make all things right. So, even when darkness comes in this imperfect world, he’ll trust God. He won’t give up. He’ll keep praying on. He’ll keep singing on. He’ll keep holding on by faith until he stands before the Lord face to face. And, I pray you will do the same – to the glory of God.
Chinese Study Notes
Depression: Will this Darkness Ever End? - Chinese Translation
心靈的哭泣：沮喪 ----這種黑暗是否能夠結束？
詩篇 42-43
今天，我們要聽聽聖經怎樣談到心靈的哭泣。我認為，在每個人的一生之中，都會在某個階段、在不同程度上有這樣的經歷，例如非常失望的時候。在我父親一方的家族裏，有很多人有臨床憂郁癥。雖然我個人並沒有向那個方向發展，然而許多我所親近的人們，包括家庭成員和朋友們，都有這個問題。所以對我來說，這個主題是非常真實和個人化的。
詩篇與我們的情緒 ---- 可拉後裔的詩，交與伶長
其實，詩篇42和43篇原本是一篇，大部分信徒在經歷黑暗之時都會去誦讀這一篇。這是專為敬拜之時所寫的詩歌。請看詩篇前面的註釋：“可拉的後裔”。可拉的後裔是一個祭司群，是專門負責敬拜的。這是一首精彩的詩歌，它唱出了愛神的人們經歷黑暗心情的時期。它的寫作手法能幫助你感受那種經歷。
這首歌有四節都講到詩人灰暗的心情，在每節後面都有一段副歌，詩人都在其中強調要自己信靠神。可能你們很多人都從個人的經歷中知道，憂郁癥經常會如波浪一樣襲來。當它襲來之時，認識神的人們在經歷這種情緒黑暗時期的時候，會轉向神。我們常會尋到安慰，以至於我們會誤認為憂郁癥不會再反復。然而，在這個不完美的世界裏，有著太多次的反復。這篇精彩的詩篇就捕捉到了這一點。
希望大家仔細聽我下面的話：一些信徒可能會認為，信心剛強的人們不會經歷到這樣的憂郁。但是聖經並沒有支持這樣的觀點。
• 在民數記11：15，摩西經歷了這樣的憂郁，那時，百姓抱怨他的帶領。他對神說：“求你立時將我殺了。”
• 在撒母耳記下18章，大衛在他的兒子死亡之後經歷了這樣的憂郁
• 在約伯記3：1-11，約伯在痛苦中經歷了這樣的憂郁
• 在列王記19章，以利沙在勝利之後經歷了這樣的憂郁
當然，我們不會忘記耶穌，祂是全然的人，也是全然的神，在祂面對自己必須要為世
人的罪而承受刑罰的事實時，祂表達了自己的情緒：“我心裏甚是憂傷，幾乎要死”（馬太26：38）。
詩歌與我們的心意 ---- 訓誨詩
讓我們再看看前面的註釋。你會看到“訓誨詩”這幾個字。這個字來自一個希伯來文的動詞，意思是使人聰明，或者指示的意思。所以，訓誨詩是一首帶有指示的詩歌。這首詩歌是為著我們的內心和意念而寫的。神所默示的這段話語，是為要幫助我們塑造我們在黑暗時期的意念，並心中的感受。當你沈浸在這首詩篇之中時，它應該幫助你“與神一同思想和感受”。我祈求這篇信息在此對你有所幫助。
觸發點
詩人三次承認了他的心“憂悶”（42：5，11，43：5）。這是很強烈的字眼，意思是他感覺自己幾乎要崩潰了；他的心要碎了；他一無所有。你曾經有過這樣的感受嗎？
現在請留意一點：詩人的憂悶並不是因為他所經歷的痛苦。還有其它的詩篇也提到了這一點。問題並不是他因為自己所犯的罪而羞愧內疚。在過去的年月中，我們這些愛神的人遵神旨意而行，卻仍然會有心靈的黑暗臨到我們。
所以，我們來看看是什麽觸發了他在詩篇中所描繪的憂悶：
觸發點之一：敬拜的韻律與和諧的團契 ---- 我從前與眾人同住，用歡呼稱贊的聲音，領他們到神的殿裏，大家守節（42：4）。
詩人在遠離自己的敬拜團體時寫了這首詩歌。第四節說，他想念那敬拜的時候。他想念與神的子民一同歌唱贊美的日子。有時候，當憂郁來臨時，你似乎失去了去教會或團契的力量。然而這可能正是你最需要的。為什麽？因為你是神所造的，祂定意讓你在以基督為中心、以聖經為基礎的團體之中成長。當我們在一個拒絕神的世界中生活時，敬拜和團契使我們有動力將神放在我們生命的中心。當你錯過敬拜的時候，一切就不再和諧，內心的空虛便開始滋長。
觸發點之二：對他信心持續的攻擊 ---- 我的敵人辱罵我，好像打碎我的骨頭（42：10）。
許多人都和我分享過，他們如何在每一天艱難地面對人們對他們信仰的嘲笑，那有可能是你的職場，或是你的學校，或者在你的家庭中，只有你一個人是基督徒的時候。對於詩人來說，既不能和大家一同敬拜，又被那些反對他信仰的人們所圍繞著，他因此而陷入憂悶的狀況之中。
觸發點之三：失調的生命節奏 – 我晝夜以眼淚當飲食。 (42:3)
詩人在42:3節，以及詩篇其它地方，都表明他飲食起居的失調。他食不甘味，夜
不能寐，唯一想做的事就是哭。一些基督徒認為，當挫折來臨的時候，你所能做的事，就是禱告和去教會。這些確實是重要的事情。然而，神造我們，使我們成為物質、情感、關系和精神的人。所有這些部分組成了我們這一個人。我們在身體，情感和智性上的行為，影響著我們生活中的每一個部分，包括我們的靈性生活。這一詩篇表達了這個真理。正因為如此，有時我們必須要處理生活中的物質境況，以更好地處理靈性狀態。正如我在幾周前的信息中所說的，有時幫助來自良好的咨詢和適當的藥物治療。
有一個例子，發生在以利亞身上，在列王記上19章，他極度沮喪。18章，以利亞奇跡般大獲全勝，戰勝巴力先知後，他陷入了深深的抑郁，他走進荒野。他想死。於是，神派了一位天使來幫助他，指導他。你知道天使做的第一件事嗎？他告訴以利亞去多多禱告了嗎？還是多聽Waybright牧師的講道？不!天使給他做了一頓飯，並告訴他去吃。然後，天使讓他睡覺。然後他又給以利亞做了一頓飯，叫他再吃一頓。聖經說：“他就起來，吃了喝了，仗著這飲食的力，走了四十晝夜，到了神的山，就是何烈山”（列王記上19:8）。
最根本的觸發點: 神似乎很遙遠 。神啊，我的心切慕你，如鹿切慕溪水。 (42:1)
當憂郁來襲的時候，要規範自己，養成良好的飲食和睡眠習慣，或者借助好的藥物，心理咨詢等智慧和幫助。但是人類最根本的需要，乃是和神有一個真誠和親近的關系。要認識到，神對你的內心的重要性，就如同水對人體的重要性一樣。你相信這點嗎？
我們年輕的時候，常常落在一種思想中自我欺騙，以為這個世界上一定存在某種東西，可以滿足我們對神的饑渴。我們想，“只要我能進某個頂尖的大學 … 如果我能進一家最好的事務所 … 如果我能和一位我心儀的優秀之人結婚…就一定會換來心滿意足。所有這些事情都很棒，但是你我被造遠超世界任何事物可以滿足。如同所羅門在傳道書3：11節說的，“神將永生安置在人心裏。”一流的晚餐，世界級的旅遊，一份好職業，甚至美好的人際關系，都不能代替神的位置。聖奧古斯丁在懺悔錄中這樣詮釋：“你為自己造了我們，我們的心漂泊不定，直到在你裏面找到安息。”
當然，這位詩人的確認識神，但是他還是要走過陰暗的幽谷。我告訴你：即使是信主之人，當我們走過陰暗幽谷的時候，我們最大的需要仍是確信神與我們同在。整個詩篇告訴我們，一位熱愛神、卻有時覺得神遠離他的人，是如何再次經歷神在他的心中的。他是怎麽做的？當我讀詩篇的時候，我記下我自己以及其他人覺得有幫助的幾點，我的禱告是，你也得到同樣的幫助。
詩人在黑暗中做些什麽？
第一: 不想禱告的時候仍要禱告－我的心極其悲傷… 你為何忘記我呢? (42:4,9)
詩人誠實地求問為什麽！他不止一次，而是四次祈求（42:9; 43:2）。由此可見他的真誠。對他來說，禱告不是簡單地背誦規定的詞匯。這個人認識神，他和神交談心裏的事。在42：9節中，他說，“神啊，你為什麽忘記我呢？”我很確定，他知道神沒有忘記他。事實上，他在第8節剛剛說過，“白晝，耶和華必向我施慈愛；黑夜，我要歌頌禱告賜我生命的神。”他的意思是，在那個時刻，他覺得好像神忘記了他，於是他誠實地告訴神他的感受。
在這點上，我敦促你仍然要不斷禱告，甚至在你感覺不到的時候，要告訴神你不明白，告訴祂你覺得祂離你很遠。我發現，很多時候好像在黑暗之中睜開眼睛一樣，最初，你什麽都看不見，然後你的視覺開始調整。你開始看見一點點。 當黑暗臨到的時候，有信心的人即使在不想禱告的時候也學習禱告。就像我們在黑夜中醒來，視力要調整一樣，當我們定睛仰望神，就開始能夠看見光。
第二：當他不能感覺到神的愛時，他仍然非常地肯定神愛他：“白晝，耶和華必向我施慈愛。”（42：8）
在第4節中，他記得在過去的日子裏，他曾經歷神在他生命中的同在。我想你應該知道，他所經歷到的許多神的愛，是他在信靠神的人群裏所經歷到的。他記得過去與眾人一同敬拜神的經歷。第4節：“我從前與眾人同往，用歡呼稱贊的聲音領他們到 神的殿裏，大家守節。我追想這些事，我的心極其悲傷。”
我還可以說很多關於集體敬拜在你生命中的重要性，不要輕視這樣一同敬拜的時刻。神定意使用在集體敬拜中與祂相遇的方式，來保守我們的信心，也使我們今後仍舊能夠記得這樣的信心。盡管詩人說，神似乎已經忘記了他，他卻從來沒有停止相信，神與他同在，並且神絕對能掌控他所面對的一切問題。他一直記得，神是真神，神愛他。最後，當我們讀到43：3-4時，他開始尋找走向光明的突破點。“求你發出你的亮光和真實，好引導我，帶我到你的聖山，到你的居所。我就走到神的祭壇，到我最喜樂的 神那裏。 神啊，我的 神！我要彈琴稱贊你！”
第三：當他不想歌唱之時，他仍舊唱歌。黑夜，祂的詩歌與我同在，我要歌頌禱告賜我生命的神。（42：8）
這不是一個充滿喜樂的詩篇。他並不覺得喜樂。這是一個祈禱和懇求的詩歌，一首唱給“我生命之神”的詩歌，也就是說，這是一首求神保守他生命的詩歌。
他用詩歌唱出他的禱告，這很神奇！這也是我盡力去學的事情。你們中間許多人在這件事上也做得很棒。我曾問LAC的牧師和同工們，在過去的一周，當他們的生命處於黑暗之中的時候，是否唱過一些詩歌，結果一個小時之內，我就拿到了一個詩歌清單。如果你想知道你可以唱哪些詩歌，在我們的網站上，有我們教會的弟兄姐妹們所推薦的詩歌，供大家參考。
音樂是神所賜給我們的禮物，詩歌牽動著我們的情感。當我們唱歌表達我們對神的仰慕時，通常都會發現，我們的心從黑暗中得到提升，進入光明。
第四：他對自己說出了一些他可能並不願意聽到的事實。“神啊！你是我的山寨．．．我的心啊！你為為何憂悶，應當仰望神。”（43：2,5）
當然，若要做到這一點，你必須知道，神所說的都是真理。在整首詩篇之中，詩人得到神的應許，並以此向自己的內心說話。請聽約翰·派博所說的話，他是一位承認一生都掙紮在抑郁癥之中的牧師：
“我無法告訴你，在我多年的牧師生涯中，曾有幾百次，我用以下這些話語，回擊那襲來的沈重的沮喪：‘希望在於神！約翰，希望在於神！你要再次贊美祂。這憂傷的情緒轉眼即逝，這段憂傷的日子將成為過去，不要憂悶，要仰望耶穌，光明必會臨到’ ”。
或者，你也可以從羅馬書第八章中，學會用經文禱告，“神若幫助我們，誰能敵擋我們呢？神既不愛惜自己的兒子為我們眾人舍了，豈不也把萬物和他一同白白地賜給我們嗎？誰能控告 神所揀選的人呢？有神稱我們為義了。誰能定我們的罪呢？有基督耶穌已經死了，而且從死裏復活，現今在神的右邊，也替我們祈求。誰能使我們與基督的愛隔絕呢？”
這首詩歌對於生命是如此的真實。值得註意的是，在詩篇結束時，詩人是信靠神的 。但他還沒有完全達到他所渴慕的境界。他已經歷了四波黑暗的沖擊，所以他知道，另一波的黑暗可能會再來。詩歌的最後一句話是：“我的心哪，你為何憂悶？為何在我裏面煩躁？應當仰望神，因我還要稱贊他。他是我臉上的光榮，是我的神。”
像聖經裏所有信心堅定的人一樣，他知道，最終神會使所有的事情成為美好。因此，即使黑暗降臨在這個不完美的世界，他仍然信靠神，他不會放棄，他會繼續地禱告，他會繼續地歌唱。他會憑著信心繼續走前面的道路，直到他面對面地站在主的面前。我為大家禱告，盼望你們能夠因著榮耀神而做同樣的事情。
榮耀歸給神，
Greg Waybright 博士
主任牧師