What to do when life knocks you down (Part 2)
Last week we talked about David and two things he did to get back up when life seemed to have knocked him down. To read the first blog just CLICK HERE!
Let’s recap real quick as we talk about Psalm 42 and the next three things you need to do in order to get back up when life knocks you down.
#1 MAKE SURE YOUR HOPE IS IN GOD AND NOTHING ELSE
Psalm 42:5b (NLT) I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again—my Savior
God is good and God’s plan for my life is better than my plan for my life.
#2 REMEMBER GODS PAST FAITHFULNESS
Psalm 42:6 (NLT) My God! Now I am deeply discouraged, but I will remember you— even from distant Mount Hermon, the source of the Jordan, from the land of Mount Mizar.
When you REMEMBER God’s faithfulness in the PAST, it gives you HOPE for the FUTURE.
#3 MAKE PRAYER A PRIORITY
Psalm 42:8-9 (ESV) By day the Lord commands his steadfast love, and at night his song is with me, a prayer to the God of my life. I say to God, my rock: “Why have you forgotten me? Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?”
I almost changed this point because I think the way many people pray is not what I’m talking about here. I’m not saying we should talk loudly at God, nor should we talk to Him in King James preacher language. Too often people get so weird when it comes to prayer. It’s like they think if they articulate their prayer the right way, then God will answer them. Let’s get real for a second… the God who created us, our vocal chords, our mind and our ability to speak, is not impressed by our articulate prayers.
When I say we have to make prayer a priority, I’m saying just talk to God. David gets honest with God in this prayer. He’s asking God why He’s forgotten him. Have you ever felt that way? Did you talk to God about it? It’s that type of openness with God that changes you. While being open with God about how you’re feeling may not directly change the situation, I’ve seen such power in my life when I’m open with God. If I’m mad, frustrated, confused or disappointed I tell God about it.
When we open our heart to God in prayer we invite His peace and His presence in to calm our souls.
I can’t tell you how many times open and honest prayer to God has helped me. While it may not immediately change my situation it always changes my outlook!
#4 TALK TO THE RIGHT PEOPLE REGULARLY
Psalm 42:10 (ESV) As with a deadly wound in my bones, my adversaries taunt me, while they say to me all the day long, “Where is your God?”
David was consistently hearing taunts from people about his situation. I’m sure the constant nagging was not only annoying, like a little brother making stupid faces at you, I’m sure it made him doubt. It’s important when you’re in a difficult situation to put a massive filter on who you allow to speak into your life and situation. When you’re battling discouragement the last thing you need is a negative friend telling you how awful things are and will only get worse. I’m not saying you should only listen to positive people, but you should only listen to mature people. When someone has maturity they’re able to look at the situation with the big picture in mind. If they’re older, they’ve been through some hard seasons as well and can offer some much needed perspective.
When life knocks you down, make sure the friends you surround yourself with are offering a hand, not pointing a finger.
#5 KEEP DOING THOSE FOUR THINGS!
Psalm 42:11 (ESV) Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.
In this verse David places his hope in God, again. He prays to God again in worship, and remembers God’s saving grace! What David did, he kept on doing. It’s easy to do one of these things for a few minutes or try it once, but that’s not going to pull you out of the pit of discouragement. You need to keep placing your hope in God. Keep remembering how good God has been, keep talking to God in open and honest prayer and keep talking to Godly, mature friends. Fighting through depression and discouragement is a daily battle. If you need someone to pray with you feel free to shoot me an email, I’d love to pray with you through whatever is going on in your life!