Denton County Living Well Magazine March/April 2018 | Page 19

Needs Encouragement
By Michelle Wallace
weary, lose heart and possibly get stuck, even when spring
has arrived. So it’s important to try to identify where you
are in life. In Psalm 42 the psalmist asks an interesting ques-
tion. Why are you downcast, my soul? Then speaks to him-
self and strengthens himself with the greatest answer. Why
are you downcast? Put your hope in God.
The life of David is a great example. 1 Samuel 30:6 tells
us when David was alone, he “strengthened himself in the
Lord his God”. This wasn’t a small thing. At one point he
had been rejected by everyone. Before becoming king he
was rejected by the reigning king. He was rejected by fam-
ily, friends and the entire nation turned against him. But he
knew one who would never reject him. And in moments of
great despair David strengthened himself in God’s unfail-
ing, never ending love.
Now, maybe you’ve been rejected by men. Like David,
it’s important to forgive. His promotion and breakthrough
were a result of becoming unoffendable. Sometimes we are
downcast because we’re bitter or offended. Forgiveness is
a great key to healing. Of course we couldn’t look at the
psalms without seeing another key from the life of David.
He was a man of praise and worship. Gratitude will launch
you into the greatest victory! But what if you don’t feel like
it. Well, I say fake it till you make it! Listen to the words of
Psalm 42 from The Passion Translation.
So I speak over my heartbroken soul,
“Take courage, remember when you used
to be right out front leading the procession
of praise when the great crowd of wor-
shipers gathered to go into the presence
of the Lord? You shouted with joy as the
sound of passionate celebration filled the
air and the joyous multitude of lovers
honored the festival of the Lord!” So then,
my soul, why would you be depressed?
Why would you sink into despair? Just
keep hoping and waiting on God, your
Savior. For no matter what, I will still
sing with praise, for living before his face
is my saving grace! Here I am depressed
and downcast. Yet I will still remember
you as I ponder the place where your
glory streams down from the mighty
mountaintops, lofty and majestic – the
mountains of your awesome presence.
To learn more about Michelle and see what she’s up to, visit her page on
Facebook at “Michelle Wallace-Hand of the King”.