Psalm 42

As the deer pants for the water brooks, so pants my soul for You, O God. 
My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. 
When shall I come and appear before God? 
My tears have been my food day and night, while they continually say to me, "Where is your God?"
I will say to God my Rock, "Why have you forgotten me? 
Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?" 
As with a breaking of my bones, my enemies reproach me,
While they say to me all day long. "Where is your God?"
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.
Psalm 42:1-3 and 9-11, NKJV

Undoubtedly you have heard someone ask the question: “If there is a God, why does He allow
bad things to happen to good people?” Is that what the Psalmist did here in the 42nd Psalm?
Does it seem to you that there are a whole lot more bad days than good days? When nothing
seems to be going right, who do we blame?
We see no blame expressed in this Psalm; instead, the Psalmist yearns for God. Even when his
enemies taunt him by asking, "Where is Your God?" the Psalmist still does not complain against
God. We see him remembering the days that he went with the multitude to the house of God in
joy and praise. Then he responds by saying, "Why are you cast down, O my soul? . . . . Hope in
God; for I shall yet praise Him, the help of my countenance and my God."
He pays no attention to those around him who mock and taunt him, but remembers the times of praise and joy in God. Instead of feeling sorry for himself, He looks to God and says, "I will
praise Him again; He is my help and my God!"

Action Steps:
Would you jot down your thoughts to these three questions?

1. How would you summarize your last seven days?
2. Were there any circumstances in the life of Jesus that would give you reason that He may understand your current situation? 
3. Would you be willing to pray today that God would change your attitude in the circumstance in which you are in, to align your wants with His will for you in this circumstance?

• Would you send a text or make a phone call now to someone you think might need an encouraging word?