I hear a lot of adults tell me they struggle to, or just plain can’t, memorize scripture. Well, did you know that you can memorize two verses of the Bible in the same amount of time it would take you to memorize one of equal length?
How so, you say? Well, the verse I share with you today is in the Bible TWICE.
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.
Psalm 42:11, Psalm 43:5
I’m not sharing this passage to challenge people to begin memorizing scripture – although this is a memorization 2-for-1, AND we should be hiding God’s Word in our heart anyway. But, I am sharing this passage in hopes of encouraging you, my friend, with a lesson God is teaching me.
So why is this exact verse in the Bible twice? Maybe it’s because the psalmist knew we’d need to be reminded of this truth. Clearly, he is reminding himself.
You ever feel like you need a good pep talk? A good does of truth?
I know I do.
Troubles come to all of us. Some big and some small. One thing for sure, troubles are hard. They are difficult. Something I’ve noticed when I face trials “of various kinds” is that I add to the trial a great deal of unneeded additional stress and emotional toil. Why? Because often, if I’m not careful, worry and fear will try to overtake me.
So, I personalized the verse…
Why are you cast down, soul?
In other words, Why are you bent in despair? Why are you bowed down, Tammy?
Why are you in turmoil (disturbed, like a roaring, a yearning, a howl) within? – Ever feel like your pain or fear is roaring and howling within?
Hope in God.
I want to say it again. Hope in God.
He says it so concrete. So matter-of-fact. So simply…Hope in God.
Hope here means “wait expectantly”. Expectantly means to wait with excitement for something good.
So, wait expectantly on God.
Then the Psalmist says, For I shall again praise Him.
The word again here in this passage means, “a getting around”. In other words, “I will come back to praise.” I shall “get around” to praising Him. Not in a lazy sense…but in the sense that I will fight my way back.
You might find it interesting if you read the passage Psalm 43 that the writer of the Psalm DOES come back around to praise. What’s most compelling and encouraging is that he does it before the help is revealed. He does it before the darkness and mystery are lifted. He simply hopes in God.
He finishes the verse with, my Salvation, and my God.
These are not just salutations or names for God. The Psalmist knows that God is his deliverer. THAT IS WHY he can praise before he even knows the end. You may not know what the end will be but you know WHO will be there with you!
You may not know what the end will be but you know WHO will be there with you!
Several weeks ago, I was with a friend. We were making stage props for VBS. Every once in a while I would stop what I was doing and I’d find her and we’d chat. But most of the time, I would be left to my thoughts and my paint project. While I painted it seemed the cares of the world would weigh heavily on my mind. At the time, I felt like I had trouble on every front. Parenting, finances, physical health, mental exhaustion. I found myself thinking through each issue over and over again while I worked.
During one of our breaks, I was talking to her about all that was pressing in. I said, “I’ve surrendered it all to God but I keep finding myself worrying over things I can’t control. When will these trials end?!?”
Then, similar to the psalmist, I began to speak the truth I know about what God has told me in His Word.
I said, “I know God tells me to cast all my cares on Him because He cares for me.” 1 Peter 5:7
“God promises that ALL things work together for those who love the Lord.” Romans 8:28
“He has said in His Word that no good thing will God withhold from those whose walk is blameless…”
No good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly; that walk by faith, and on in Christ, as they have received him; who have their conversation according to the Gospel of Christ, and walk in the uprightness and sincerity of their hearts; from such the Lord will not withhold any good thing he has purposed for them, promised to them, or laid up for them in covenant; no spiritual good thing appertaining to life and godliness, and no temporal blessing that is good for them; he will deny them no good thing they ask of him, not anything that is good for them; and he will not draw back any good things he has bestowed on them, his gifts are without repentance. Gills Exposition of the Bible
I remembered the many comforting passages I had committed to memory over the years. “This God—his way is perfect; the word of the LORD proves true; he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him.” Psalm 18:30
“You keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.” Isaiah 26:3
“Return to your rest, O my soul, for the LORD has been good to you.” Psalm 116:7
Mixed in with all the wonderful verses of promised I spoke of my own experiences of God’s faithfulness in things big and little.
I told her, “I know these things about God!”
Before I knew it, my countenance lifted. I said to my friend, “Boy, I feel so encouraged! I know God loves me. I know He is GOOD. I know He will have His way in the end. He always comes through. So why do I ever fret the middle?”
Why do we fret the middle?
Friend, are you waiting on God and fretting the middle?
Why do we do that? Although your trial is not over, you know God is good. You know He is faithful. You know He is your shield. He has you in His hand! He will deliver. So why fret the middle?
Don’t be bowed low in despair. Don’t be in turmoil. Meditate on who God is and His promise to deliver and don’t fret the middle.
