Feeling Low and Discouraged? Read This!

Every single day, we are bombarded from all directions with all sorts of shifting bad news. The world is sinking into depression and despair, and most people out there, do not know what is going on, or what will be going on, in the near future. But we as Christians, are not left unaware, of why things are, as they are in the world, or what will happen, in the future, because our God has said in his Word, what will happen, in the last days! We have read the end of the book, the Bible, and we win! Glory and thanks to our Lord Jesus Christ for that!

When we read Psalm 116:6-9, we can see someone, who has learned to do the right thing, when they feel down or depressed. The are not continuing to wallow in their depression, but have lifted their eyes up to God, away from all those depressing things, in their lives, and around the world. They have decided to think about the heavenly things, and not about the earthly things, as we are admonished to do, in the Bible.

The person in Psalm 116:6-9, pays attention to their soul state, and and when they find that their heart is sinking in despair, they remind themselves, and their soul, to take a rest. But what is important is to realise, that the reason that person in that Psalm 116 is telling his own soul to take a rest, or to relax in other words, is because that person knows their God, and trusts in him, and his Word. In verses 6 and 7, the psalmist says that God has dealt bountifully with him, and that it is God who has taken away his tears. Do you see that? It is not about what is happening around the psalmist and his life, no. It is about the fact, that God has taken his tears away from him.

The confidence and the comfort of the psalmist in Psalm 116, comes from his trust in God, and his Word. That psalmist knew very well, that no matter what happens in his life, God is always there to help him, and comfort him, and to keep him from stumbling or hurt in his life, in the future.

In the same way, we as Christians, have to trust what Jesus said and promised to us, that if we are burdened, we should come to him, and find rest of our souls. The rest Jesus provides for our souls as his followers, is always there for us, 24/7, but it is up to us to believe that, and to take advantage of that rest, provided from God for us. If we do not take that rest Jesus provides for us with faith, it will not enter our hearts and souls.

We have to receive the rest God provides for our souls, with faith, just as we receive everything else from him, by faith, if that is a spiritual blessing or material. That is why Jesus said in the Gospel of John, that we should not let our hearts be troubled. He is putting the emphasis on us, not to let our hearts be troubled. Only then, we can really experience the peace Jesus provides for us, and the rest he gives us. If we fret, and worry, and are full with anxiety, and not trusting in what God says in his Word for us, how can we have and enjoy the rest which Jesus provides?