Healing Negative EmotionsSample

Feeling Discouraged

In Psalm 42, the sons of Korah wrote about discouragement. Discouragement means that your courage is taken away, which can happen when the source of it is misplaced.

When I am discouraged I often ask myself, “Where is your hope?” I never fail to recognize that I have placed my hope in another person or circumstance during those times. But the truth is that other people can fail or disappoint you; circumstances can change unfavorably. However, our God in heaven is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

I believe that during times of discouragement, your soul is really thirsty for God. That is when you need to re-connect with the source of your hope and courage, seeking the Lord’s presence, studying the Word, prayer, praise, worship, singing Spiritual songs, and serving others for God's glory.

The sons of Korah knew how important it is to seek God's face continually. You can hear their longing for God in the question "When shall I come and appear before God?" You see, they did not have the indwelling Holy Spirit inside of them.

However when we accepted Jesus as our Savior, the Holy Spirit came to live inside of us. So we can go into the temple, into our innermost being, to meet with the Spirit of God right where we are. We have confidence that when we hunger and thirst after righteousness, we are filled!

The sons of Korah knew the source of encouragement: "Hope in God." When you remember that your hope is in God, not a person nor circumstance, it steadies your soul and makes your countenance brighter. In the Psalm, they speak of remembering the Lord, His presence, His power, His lovingkindness, and the song He has placed in their hearts.

Although you may feel that the Lord has forgotten you sometimes, he hasn't. This is another situation in which your feelings have to be measured against God's word. Scripture records that the Lord has his people engraved on the palms of His hands (see Isaiah 49:16)! So we are with Him permanently.

During times of discouragement, we must always remember where our help comes from. Our help comes from the Lord, who made heaven, Earth, and us.