Why Am I Downcast? Psalm 42:1-5TLB
Mental health isn’t taboo any longer. Thank God we’re beginning to understand that we need to be honest with what we’re going through. That our mental health is important.You should always confide in someone who cares, someone who will follow up.
There are several things we can do to fight back at—mental illness.
General Mental Health Data
Nearly 1 in 5 American adults will have a diagnosable mental health condition in any given year.
46 percent of Americans will meet the criteria for a diagnosable mental health condition sometime in their life, and half of those people will develop conditions by the age of 14.
Prevalence By Condition*
Overall
Number of US Adults with Mental Illness: 44 million.
Percent of US Adults with Mental Illness: 18%
Anxiety
Lifetime prevalence of any Anxiety Disorder: 31.6%
Number of US Adults with Anxiety Disorders: 42.5 million.
Anxiety disorders are among the most common mental illnesses in America.
Addiction/Substance Use Disorder
Percent of US Adults with a Substance Use Disorder in the Past Year: 8%.
Number of US Adults with a Substance Use Disorder in the Past Year: 19 million.
Percent of Youth with a Substance Use Disorder in the Past Year: 4.6%
Number of Youth with a Substance Use Disorder in the Past Year: 1.1 million.
Bipolar Disorder
Past year prevalence of Bipolar Disorder: 1.8%
Number of US Adults with Bipolar Disorder: 3.3 million.
An estimated 2.5% of US adults experience bipolar disorder at some time in their lives.
Depression
Percent of US Adults with Major Depression: 7.1%
Number of US Adults with Depression: 17.3 million
Percent of Youth (aged 12-17) with Major Depression: 13%.
Number of Youth (aged 12-17) with Major Depression: 3.1 million.
Percent of Youth with Severe Depression: 9%
Number of Youth with Severe Depression: 2 million.
Major depression is one of the most common mental illnesses.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Percent of People (ages 13+) in US with PTSD (Lifetime prevalence): 5.7%.
Percent of People (ages 13+) in US with PTSD (One year prevalence): 3.7%.
Number of US Adults with PTSD: 12 million.
Schizophrenia
Percent of US Adults with Schizophrenia: <1%.
Number of US Adults with Schizophrenia: 1.5 million.
Suicidal Thoughts
Percent of US Adults with Suicidal Thoughts: 4%.
Number of US Adults with Suicidal Thoughts: 9.8 million. (Wikipedia)
The Sons of Korah are the contributors of Psalm 42. One wonders if the poet who penned these lyrics was remembering his shameful beginnings, his distant ancestor who perished in an earthquake for his pride and rebellion. https://www.desiringgod.org/messages/spiritual-depression-in-the-psalms
Again, There are several things we can do to fight back at—mental illness.
Psalm 42:1-5TLB As the deer pants for water, so I long for you, O God. 2 I thirst for God, the living God. Where can I find him to come and stand before him? 3 Day and night I weep for his help, and all the while my enemies taunt me. “Where is this God of yours?” they scoff. 4-5 Take courage, my soul! Do you remember those times (but how could you ever forget them!) when you led a great procession to the Temple on festival days, singing with joy, praising the Lord? Why then be downcast? Why be discouraged and sad? Hope in God! I shall yet praise him again. Yes, I shall again praise him for his help.
The book of Psalms is divided into 5 sections. 1—Psalms 1-41, 2—Psalms 42-72, 3—Psalms 73-89, 4—Psalms 90-106, 5—Psalms 107-150. This Psalm is the first psalm of book two. Again, its contributor is the sons of Korah.
1. The first way to stay on the offense during emotional times, depression, anxiety, and such, is to keep a daily gratitude journal.
Refuse to withdraw, allow yourself room to know that you’re loved.
Psalm 42:1TM A white-tailed deer drinks from the creek; I want to drink God, deep drafts of God.
The sons of Korah were a group of priests who were charged with the ministry of singing. Second Chronicles 20:19, describes them in action: “The Korahites, stood up to praise the Lord, the God of Israel, with a very loud voice.”
The The late Rev. Charles Spurgeon said this of Psalm 42. “Ease he did not seek, honour he did not covet, but the enjoyment of communion with God was an urgent need of his soul; he viewed it not merely as the sweetest of all luxuries, but as an absolute necessity, like water to a stag.” (Spurgeon)
Psalm 42:1TPT I long to drink of you, O God, to drink deeply from the streams of pleasure flowing from your presence. My longings overwhelm me for more of you!
I think it’s safe to say that these Sons of Korah were grateful. I’m sure they remember ‘why’ and ‘what’ tragedies occurred to their ancestors.
Again, The Sons of Korah were grateful.
2. The Sons of Korah stayed—hungry for God. They had an appetite for God. They made him a major part in the equation.
Psalm 42:2TLB My soul thirsts, pants, and longs for the living God. I want to come and see the face of God.
The Sons of Korah give us a clue or a hint that there’s a big need: “I need to see your face, I long for you, I need a living God.”
This I know, When you’re going through depression God can seem a million-miles-away.
Listen to, Psalm 42:2TM I’m thirsty for God-alive. I wonder, “Will I ever make it—arrive and drink in God’s presence?”
I wonder—Will I—Make it—can I—drink directly from God’s resources.
Jesus finds Himself at the Feast of Tabernacles on the last day. John 7: 37-38TLB On the last day, the climax of the holidays, Jesus shouted to the crowds, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. 38 For the Scriptures declare that rivers of living water shall flow from the inmost being of anyone who believes in me.”
The feast of Tabernacle’s, is a joyous celebration reminder of God's deliverance, protection, provision, and faithfulness.
Again, Regardless of the pain and suffering I will stay near my Lord; Stay hungry for God.
I can hear them saying, “I might be a basket case, I might be filled with anxieties mixed with other disorders, but my God can deliver!”
Again, 2. These Sons of Korah stayed hungry.
3. The Sons of Korah were—honest. If you’re hurting, You should be able to say so. Honestly promotes wholeness and well-being.
Psalm 42:3TLB Day and night my tears keep falling and my heart keeps crying for your help, while my enemies mock me over and over, saying,“Where is this God of yours? Why doesn’t he help you?”
The key part of verse 3 is, Day and night my tears keep falling and my heart keeps crying for your help.
According to CPE, this would be considered acute grief, and if continues, it could become chronic grief.
Honesty is important to your well-being.
Psalm 42:3TM I’m on a diet of tears—tears for breakfast, tears for supper. All day long people knock at my door, Pestering, “Where is this God of yours?”
Time and time again, Israel's blatant disobedience and faithlessness broke the heart of God. Listen to:
Isaiah 40:26-31TLB Look up into the heavens! Who created all these stars? As a shepherd leads his sheep, calling each by its pet name, and counts them to see that none are lost or strayed, so God does with stars and planets!
27 O Jacob, O Israel, how can you say that the Lord doesn’t see your troubles and isn’t being fair? 28 Don’t you yet understand? Don’t you know by now that the everlasting God, the Creator of the farthest parts of the earth, never grows faint or weary? No one can fathom the depths of his understanding. 29 He gives power to the tired and worn out, and strength to the weak. 30 Even the youths shall be exhausted, and the young men will all give up. 31 But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength. They shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.
Again, 3. The Sons of Korah were honest on how they were doing.
4. The Son’s of Korah remembered God and kept Him in the presence. In other words, Korah knew, God did it then, and He’ll do it now!
Psalm 42:4TLB 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 worshipers 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 feast of the Lord!”
God can deliver you from depression. He can miraculously change your outlook. P.H
The Sons of Korah state, “What happened?, ‘I once was up front, alive, joyful, but now?”
Again, Psalm 42:4TM These are the things I go over and over, emptying out the pockets of my life. I was always at the head of the worshiping crowd, right out in front, Leading them all, eager to arrive and worship, shouting praises, singing thanksgiving—celebrating, all of us, God’s feast!
The Sons of Korah are trying to figure out what happened? What happened to the joy, the fun, where did it all go? I’m I really saved?
5. The Sons of Korah found their strength in the Lord. They believed, they exercised their faith.
Psalm 42:5TLB 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 you are my saving grace!
Psalm 42:5TM Why are you down in the dumps, dear soul? Why are you crying the blues? Fix my eyes on God—soon I’ll be praising again. He puts a smile on my face. He’s my God.
If He’s your God always be honest with your spiritual health, Always be honest with you physical health, If He’s your God always be honest with your emotional health.
Becoming cast—When a horse gets ‘cast’ in means they get into a position that they can’t get up. Or it could be that their belly hurts so bad, their instincts tell them to roll on the ground, it's at this time they can easily twist and intestate; Horses easily die from this.
The Sons of Korah found themselves feeling cast down. However, notice, because they found their strength in the Lord they knew it would be okay.
5. Again, The Sons of Korah found their strength in the Lord.
They fought for hope. he is fighting for hope. Again, Verse 5: “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.” Verse 11: “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.” He is not surrendering to the emotions of discouragement. He is fighting back.
So remember, When, not if, you feel cast— down, know that you’re not an exception. Know that the same God who promised to deliver Israel will deliver you!
Benediction.
