“Why?” - Psalm 42 (Day 2)
Yesterday, we began our journey through Psalm 42 - a challenging piece of Scripture penned by an author wrestling with a downcast soul. While feeling the weight of his grief and despair, if we look closely enough, we see different ways he responded to discouragement, and it is these habits we want to meditate on this week. Yesterday, we began with the habit that influences all the rest - thirsting for God and knowing Him more intimately. Everything flows from our walk with God. Today’s habit comes in the form of a question - WHY? In trying circumstances, what we do with our doubts and questions matters. So, before we continue our exploration of Psalm 42, I want to provide a space for you to bring you to consider the questions you wrestle with and, then, have the courage to bring them to God in prayer.
As you read Psalm 42, pay attention and make note of how many times the author utters the question “WHY?”
Psalm 42 says this:
1 As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God.
2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?
3 My tears have been my food day and night, while people say to me all day long, “Where is your God?”
4 These things I remember as I pour out my soul: how I used to go to the house of God under the protection of the Mighty One with shouts of joy and praise among the festive throng.
5 Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.
6 My soul is downcast within me; therefore I will remember you from the land of the Jordan, the heights of Hermon—from Mount Mizar.
7 Deep calls to deep in the roar of your waterfalls; all your waves and breakers have swept over me.
8 By day the Lord directs his love, at night his song is with me— a prayer to the God of my life.
9 I say to God my Rock, “Why have you forgotten me? Why must I go about mourning, oppressed by the enemy?”
10 My bones suffer mortal agony as my foes taunt me, saying to me all day long, “Where is your God?”
11 Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.
Take a moment to reflect on what you just read:
How would you describe the author’s grief? What made him question God’s heart, faithfulness, and presence?
When it comes to matters of faith, many of us wrongly assume that the strength of one's faith is dependent on how free it is of doubt. If that were the case, then the author would be in trouble because questions upon questions fill the verses of Psalm 42. Feeling alone, isolated, and in exile, the author wonders WHEN he can go and meet with God back in the temple in Jerusalem. His situation was so dire that even his enemies and captors joined in, mockingly questioning, "WHERE is your God?" Yet, the question of WHY appears most often - six times altogether. Considering his surroundings, it is a legitimate question, something all of us would ponder if in the same situation.
Doubt can become a barrier toward faith. It can be an excuse to give up hope, or it can be utilized as an opportunity to take determined steps of faith and obedience amid trying times. Faith is not having all the answers but being convinced enough to commit and continue with courage. It is our faith that pleases God because faith requires trust and humility. Honest doubt fuels pursuit. God welcomes our questions and is even okay with our doubts, provided we possess a humble spirit. Although doubt with pride will lead us away from God, doubt with humility fosters an encounter with God. WHY can be a question of defiance and defeat, but with a hunger and desire to know God's heart and experience His presence, a WHY fueled by humility can draw us closer to Him.
Take a moment and consider…What fuels the posture of your “WHY” questions (humility, pride, a yearning for relief, etc.)?
Reread one of those WHY questions from Psalm 42:
Psalm 42:5 says this:
5 Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.
Doubt, skepticism, and uncertainty are concepts looked down upon in the church world. As a result, we hide them and keep those WHY questions to ourselves. We're rarely encouraged to admit we have doubts, so much so that if we do, we get slapped with the label of "less than" or "immature." Look no further than Thomas, one of the Twelve Apostles who centuries later still goes by the moniker of "Doubting Thomas" because he initially doubted the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
If only we were as gracious to others and ourselves who wrestle with questions and doubts as Jesus was to Thomas. He didn't reprimand Thomas for his concerns. Instead, He invited Thomas to touch His wounds and see for himself that He conquered the grave. The foundation Christ provides is the only one strong enough to handle our doubts. When we build on this foundation, there is freedom to process our questions and explore our uncertainties. Knowing we are unconditionally loved, we no longer have to be crippled by fear, but humbly ask our WHY questions with freedom and hope.
So, as we begin to wrap up our time together, we want to provide you some space to respond to what we read and maybe to what God is trying to say to you through Psalm 42. First, take a moment to process this question…Why is honest doubt necessary for authentic faith?
Another question to consider is this…How can you accept God’s invitation to bring your questions and concerns to Him this week?
PRAYER
Father God,
Thank you for welcoming my questions and concerns.
I will bring you my doubts and fears, knowing that through this pursuit,
I have an opportunity to capture a glimpse of Your heart and mind.
Rather than letting my uncertainty cause me to run away from You,
I will utilize it to bring me closer to Your side. Amen.