February Blahs

As I said on Sunday, I have a feeling that the Psalmist wrote Psalm 42 in February. He seems to feel the way that I feel at times. In “The Message”(–see below) he describes his feelings well. I will pluck these verses out to consider…

Psalm 42:11(NIV) Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.
Psalm 42:11(The Message) 11 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.

Yes I feel downcast at times. Just like the rest of the folks that call for help. Yes I need to go to God in sometimes a desperate mode – crying for help.

Please notice the same Psalmist that writes the wonderful Psalm 150 – also struggles with his feelings. He has as many February Blah days as we do! That is good to hear.

If you will follow through with a short and simple Bible study… you will find that in Psalm 42 through to 44 he is feeling the same. Then after a wedding Psalm is inserted in the series he gives us the wonderful Psalm 46 – that states we should be still and know that God is GOD!

What am I saying today?

First, I need to recognize that I (my soul) needs help – it can get downcast.
Second, I need to get help. God is there to help me and will help find the old smile and get it back on my face again.
Third, for some of us, we may need more help. It may not go away as fast as it does for others.

The one thing that the Psalmist didn’t have is a good doctor. As my wife and I have faced off with the Blahs we have found that we need outside help at times. We have also agreed that it is not un-spiritual to seek help. Coupled with medication we have faced the issues together.

Are ministers allowed to be honest? This one has to be…

So if you will join me on this journey through this week we can make it together – arm in arm out of the “cabin fever stage” and into the bright sunshine of the weeks to come. Get your coat and boots on we are outta here!

~ Pastor Murray Lincoln ~
Psalm 42 (The Message)
Psalm 42
A psalm of the sons of Korah
1-3 A white-tailed deer drinks from the creek; I want to drink God, deep draughts of God. I'm thirsty for God-alive. I wonder, "Will I ever make it— arrive and drink in God's presence?" 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?"

4 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!

5 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.

6-8 When my soul is in the dumps, I rehearse everything I know of you, From Jordan depths to Hermon heights, including Mount Mizar. Chaos calls to chaos, to the tune of whitewater rapids. Your breaking surf, your thundering breakers crash and crush me. Then God promises to love me all day, sing songs all through the night! My life is God's prayer.

9-10 Sometimes I ask God, my rock-solid God, "Why did you let me down? Why am I walking around in tears, harassed by enemies?" They're out for the kill, these tormentors with their obscenities, Taunting day after day, "Where is this God of yours?"

11 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.