We Press On

by Chris Burton

Psalm 42

As the deer pants for the water brooks,
So pants my soul for You, O God.
2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
When shall I come and appear before God?[b]
3 My tears have been my food day and night,
While they continually say to me,
“Where is your God?”

4 When I remember these things,
I pour out my soul within me.
For I used to go with the multitude;
I went with them to the house of God,
With the voice of joy and praise,
With a multitude that kept a pilgrim feast.

5 Why are you cast down, O my soul?
And why are you disquieted within me?
Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him
For the help of His countenance.[c]

6 O my God,[d] my soul is cast down within me;
Therefore I will remember You from the land of the Jordan,
And from the heights of Hermon,
From the Hill Mizar.
7 Deep calls unto deep at the noise of Your waterfalls;
All Your waves and billows have gone over me.
8 The Lord will command His lovingkindness in the daytime,
And in the night His song shall be with me—
A prayer to the God of my life.

9 I will say to God my Rock,
“Why have You forgotten me?
Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?”
10 As with a breaking of my bones,
My enemies reproach me,
While they say to me all day long,
“Where is your God?”

11 Why are you cast down, O my soul?
And why are you disquieted within me?
Hope in God;
For I shall yet praise Him,
The help of my countenance and my God.

Observation

This psalm is full of perseverance. The psalmist must have looked crazy to those who asked “Where is your God?” But still the psalmist did not give up. 

Application

We’ve got to be relentless in our pursuit of God. No matter what the situation looks like, feels like or seems like we’ve gotta know that we know we serve a God of endless possibilities. We will make it!                                                                     

Today’s Prayer

Lord we thank You for being our confidence. Guard our minds and hearts so that we will not look to the left nor to the right but keep our minds stayed on You. We thank You for redeeming us and redeeming this time. Use us mightily and show us how to overcome all obstacles.

In Jesus’ name,

Amen.