As the author of this psalm knows, it’s all too easy to fall into the trap of seeing the state of the world and succumbing to depression and despondence – alluding in this passage to their feelings of being “cast off” and of “mourning” as a result of the unfairness of men. I, as well as numerous friends & family members, have dealt with depression in various forms to various degrees throughout the years. And with this psalm specifically, I can personally attest to seeing how cruelly and unfairly people can act towards each other, and falling into that depressive spiral. But for any huge number of reasons, it is part of our human nature to feel deep sadness at times.
In what feels like a continuation in yesterday’s Psalm, Psalm 43 is a statement on the necessity, within difficult times, of reminding ourselves that God will make Himself known. God will free us from blame and unjustness; He will lift our spirits and bring us back to His sanctity; when He leads us to worship, He will show us a joy we can not know on our own. In Him, and only in Him, the joy of being alive (both in the present and eternity) are found. The psalmist’s reminders: verse 3, “send out your light and your truth; let them lead me”; verse 4, “I will go to the altar of God, to God my exceeding joy”; verse 5, “Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me?”. These all remind me of my own battles with depression, where turning to the Lord for guidance rekindled my delight in Him.
In my past struggles with depression, I was helped in part by reaching out to friends and family, and visiting and communicating with professionals who helped me process & address my feelings in a healthy, Christ-centered way. If you are fighting that deep melancholic struggle, I wholly encourage those who need it to do the same, and engage in the healing help the Lord has blessed us with to help navigate these trials. But Scripture’s clear through statements like Romans 15:13 (“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit”); overcoming despair and finding joy, much more so than any earthly step we can take to heal ourselves, hinges on our devotion to Christ. Only in Him can this unfailing hope be found.
If you are struggling with these feelings yourself, I pray for healing and vulnerability in your journey to return to God’s altar where your joy lies (and please, don’t be afraid to go to others for help on the way). For those who know someone struggling, I pray for generous spirits and wise discernments to help shine Christ’s healing light in their lives. And above all, I exalt God the Father, whose light and truth will always fill our spirits up and bring us joy.