by Sandy Kirby Quandt

Overwhelmingly sad. That’s how my friend described the way she felt this past week. Overwhelmingly sad for no apparent reason. She couldn’t understand it, and didn’t like it one bit. She turned on the radio. Tried to think positive thoughts. Anything to stop feeling so sad.

Perhaps you can identify with the oppressive weight she felt. I know I can.

Sometimes for no apparent reason, all of a sudden we might feel sad and not understand why. We find ourselves spiraling deeper and deeper into a funk despite our best efforts to do the opposite.

We’re auguring in even though we’re yelling, “Pull up! Pull up!”

Sometimes we know the reason for our sadness. Broken relationships. Loss. Conflict. Discouragement. Difficult decisions.

Doesn’t matter if we know the reason or not. The sadness is real either way.

In Psalm 42 and Psalm 43 within a total of 16 verses, the following lines are repeated three times.

Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again–my Savior and my God!

As sadness enveloped David, he remembered God. He remembered the LORD pours his unfailing love upon us. He remembered his hope is in God alone.

When sadness hits, perhaps like the psalmist, our best defense is to remember God’s provision. Remember past victories. Be specific in remembering what God has done for us. Remember what he’s brought us through. Keep at it for as long as it takes to turn the sadness around.

Keeping a written record of all the times God showed up and showed out in our lives makes the remembering easier and more concrete. Less nebulous.

That way, when sadness strikes, we have a record of all the times God has been faithful. Armed with that knowledge, we can ask ourselves why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad?

Our hope is in God. Our Savior and our God to whom all our praise belongs.

What do you do to combat sadness when it attacks?

Leave a comment below to share your thoughts on the subject. If you think others would appreciate reading this, please share it through the social media buttons.

Why am I discouraged?
    Why is my heart so sad?
I will put my hope in God!
    I will praise him again—
    my Savior and my God! Psalm 43:5

I wish you well.

Sandy

Please enter your email address on the form located on the right sidebar to sign up to receive posts every Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday. Thanks!