FINDING HOPE IN THE STORM – Psalm 42, Psalm 43
INTRODUCTION
Let me begin by sharing some interesting facts about this Psalm. It is the 1st Psalm in what is called Book 2 of the Psalms - Psalm 42 through Psalm 72. One of the major themes of these Psalms is moving through the struggles of life with hope, and trust, and faith in God.
Another interesting aspect of this Psalm is that, in the Jewish Bible it is joined with Psalm 43. Psalm 43 is, if you will, the 3rd verse of this song.
A third fact about Psalms 42 and 43 is that they seem to express the feelings of David as he was fleeing Jerusalem to escape the wrath of his son Absalom.
Today, I want us to look at how we can face the trials of life with confidence that God is going to be with us and see us through the storms.
I. EXPRESSING OUR STRUGGLES – VERSES 1-5
The Psalmist gives us a VIVID PICTURE of his struggle. He says, “I feel like a deer that is thirsty for water. I need God. I need the LIVING GOD.” “My tears have been my food. “I’m not only thirsty but I’m hungry. WHERE ARE YOU GOD?”
This struggle is SOMETHING WE ALL EXPERIENCE. There are SEASONS IN LIFE when we feel distant from God, whether due to personal loss, challenges, or unanswered prayers.
We have struggles with RELATIONSHIPS. Sometimes we have HEALTH ISSUES. The COMPANY WHERE WE WORK downsizes and we lose our job. It’s hard to pay the bills. Sometimes it’s just the DAILY GRIND of life that gets to us. We WORRY ABOUT EVERYTHING. So many things are on our minds. It’s easy for DEPRESSION to creep in. We end up being EXAUSTED.
In VERSE 9, which is the beginning of the 2nd STANZA, the writer even says, “God, why have you forgotten me? My ENEMIES are saying to me, ‘Where is your God.’”
In PSALM 43, the 3rd verse of the song, he says, “God, why have you rejected me? Why must I live in sorrow.”
The Psalmist seems to be BLAMING GOD for all his troubles and feelings. THIS REMINDS ME OF OTHERS who went to God with their complaints.
JOB said, “It would have been better if I was never born.” Moses said, “Lord, why have you brought this trouble on your servant?” DAVID said, "How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me?"
NOW, let me tell you this. GOD IS NOT SHAKEN or DISTURBED WITH US when we express our thoughts like this. GOD KNOWS US better than we know ourselves and HE KNOWS OUR STRUGGLES. Besides that, WE ARE HIS CHILDREN. HE LOVES US. GOD LOVES YOU.
1 PETER 5:7 says, “Cast all your cares upon Him for He cares for you.”
II. DECLARING OUR HOPE – VERSES 5b, 11
In the midst of this struggle, SOMETHING SHIFTS. The psalmist begins to PREACH TO HIMSELF: "Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God."
Even though he is overwhelmed with sorrow, he makes a DELIBERATE CHOICE to trust in God’s faithfulness. This is the turning point. Despite his circumstances, he declares his hope in God, knowing that God is going to see him through.
NOW, WHAT CHANGED? I think HE REMEMBERED that God had seen him through troubles in the past. That God had sustained him in his time of need. That God had seen him through other storms and problems.
How many of you know that GOD IS FAITHFUL? Hasn’t God seen us through other storms and problems? Hasn’t he carried us through deep waters? THEN HE WILL DO IT NOW!
Look at the CONFIDENCE the Psalmist expresses in VERSE 8. “The LORD will send His FAITHFUL love by day; His song will be with me in the night…”
THOUGH THE STRUGGLE CONTINUES, there is confidence in God's love. The psalmist holds on to faith, trusting that GOD IS NEAR EVEN WHEN IT FEELS LIKE HE IS FAR AWAY.
PSALM 34:18 - "The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit."
PSALM 46:1 - "God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble."
ISAIAH 41:10 - "So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."
Friends, You can pour your heart out to Him. Remember His faithfulness in the past and trust that He is going to see you through now.
III. RESTING IN HIS PEACE
The Psalmist says in those 3 VERSES OF REFRAIN, “I will praise the Lord.”
WHAT IS HE PRAISING THE LORD FOR? I believe he’s praising the Lord for the PEACE we find when we place our storms and our troubles in God’s hands.
ISAIAH 26:3 - "You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in you."
SOMETIMES GOD REMOVES THE STORM and gives us peace. I thought about the DISCIPLES IN THE BOAT when the storm came up. They were in fear of losing their lives. They wake Jesus up and say, “Don’t you care? When JESUS REBUKES the storm he says, “PEACE! Be still. “Peace” was for the disciples. “Be still” was for the storm.
SOMETIMES GOD DOESN’T REMOVE THE STORM but gives us peace in the storm. It’s like a HURRICANE. The storm is raging but in the EYE of the hurricane there a perfect calm.
PEACE IS NOT ALWAYS THE ABSENCE OF STORMS but PEACE COMES FROM THE PRESENCE OF GOD IN OUR LIVES and our TRUST THAT HE IS GOING TO SUSTAIN US.
PHILIPPIANS 4:6-7 - "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."
SONG – Just a Little Talk With Jesus
“I may have doubts and fears, my eyes be filled with tears, But Jesus is a friend who watches day and night, I go to him in prayer, He knows my every care And just a little talk with Jesus makes it right.”
CONCLUSION
MAYBE YOU ARE STUGGLING WITH SOMETHING RIGHT NOW. Maybe you are in a SPIRITUAL STRUGGLE. Our hope is found in our reliance on the faithfulness of God to see us through the storm.
We are going to have a time of prayer in just a moment. Talk with God. He is as close as the mention of His name. Give Him your burden. Find Peace in Him.
