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R.
G. Lee
Society of Fellows
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R.
G. Lee
Society of Fellows
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Rick Majerus, the men's basketball coach at the
University of Utah, recently captured a common concern. He said, "Everyone's worried about the
economy this year. Hey, my hairline is
in recession. My waistline is in
inflation and altogether, I'm in depression." Coach Majerus was expressing something from which we as
Christians are not immune. It is possible for believers to have a downcast
spirit. We can be depressed or feel
down in the dumps. A downcast spirit is no respecter of person or age. It can affect
both males and females. It affects the
young as well as the old. I believe a downcast spirit, depression or
discouragement is one of the greatest tools of Satan. A downcast spirit causes us to lose the joy of our salvation, it
hinders us in our service, it detours us from witnessing and it casts a shadow
upon our prayer life. Sooner or later
most believers go through a period in which they feel helpless and hopeless. That is the mood found in Psalm 42. David is sharing about his own personal struggle
with a downcast spirit. He is
experiencing a period of sadness in which nothing feels good or looks
good. Some of the greatest saints in
the Bible had similar feelings of despair.
Moses, Elijah, Jeremiah and John the Baptist battled with a downcast
spirit. The Bible says that David was a man after God's
own heart. However, David testifies of
his own frailties. Follow along as we
get a glimpse into his life. I. Indications of a Downcast Spirit Every vehicle has lights
on the dash. These lights indicate and
warn that there is a problem. So it is
with human beings. We have certain
indicators which help us identify when something is wrong. David shares those indicators in his life,
which revealed a downcast spirit. Spiritual dryness is one
of those indicators. In Psalm
42:1-2. David writes, "My soul
thirsts for God." He feels far
from God. Outwardly, David had
every reason to be depressed. Many
believe this Psalm was written when Absalom, David’s son, was leading a revolt
against his father. David’s life and
his nation were in turmoil and chaos.
The fact that he felt that God was far away only added to David’s
suffering. As a matter of fact, David
felt that he had been forgotten by God (Psalm 42:9). Spiritually, David was struggling. Emotionally, David was
drained. He said, “My tears have
been my meat day and night” (Psalm 42:3).
Some people weep and cry when they are depressed. David went on to say that it was continuous.
He could not stop. The wounds got a little deeper each time someone asked him,
“Where is thy God?” David was almost at
his breaking point emotionally. The indicators of a
downcast spirit were very strong in David’s life. He felt spiritually dry, emotionally drained and continually
overwhelmed. David wrote, “All thy
waves and thy billows are gone over me” (Psalm 42:7). It is as if he stands watching the
waterfalls and sees the water pouring out in an overwhelming way and says,
“That’s how I feel. I feel so engulfed
and overwhelmed in trouble that I see no hope." So we see how David felt and we see the indications of a downcast
spirit. II. Instructions for a Downcast Spirit How did David deal with such a dark period in
his life? This chapter tells us not
only how David felt but also what David did.
Notice the actions he took when he found himself with a downcast spirit.
First he made a choice about himself. This is evident when David asked himself,
“Why art thou cast down, O my soul? And why art thou disquieted in me?”
(Psalm 42:11). David talked to himself
and he made a choice. Problems come to all of us. Some people allow their problems to make
them bitter while some allow their problems to make them better. I have seen people face similar types of
problems yet their responses to those problems were quite different. How is
that so? The bottom line is the choice
each makes. One’s outlook greatly
determines one’s outcome. Everyone has a decision to make every day. One can wake up and say “Good morning, Lord”
or say “Good Lord, it’s morning.” I
believe David made the choice to rejoice.
It is as if he said, “Okay soul, let’s try to get a better perspective
on this.” He had a good long talk with
himself. Whenever you find yourself with a downcast
spirit, do as David did and ask yourself these important questions. 1. Is it
a physical problem? A few years ago, my wife and I went through
a difficult eighteen months. I knew she
was not herself and she knew she was not herself. Doctors discovered she had some health problems which required
surgery. She was a different person
after her surgery. You might be down
because of a physical problem. 2. Is it
an emotional problem? Sometimes we are carrying emotional baggage
that has become emotional bondage. Are
there some things you have not worked through in your life? It could be guilt, grudges or grief. The situation may be that you have allowed
yourself to become emotionally depleted. 3. Finally, is it a spiritual problem? An older couple was taking a drive one Sunday
afternoon. The wife said, “Honey,
remember when we were young and so in love?
We always sat close together in the vehicle. Do you remember that?” He
looked at her and said, “I have not moved!”
If the problem is a spiritual problem, guess who moved? The Bible says, “Draw near unto God and
he will draw near unto you” (James 4:8). Sin in our lives creates
a distance between us and God. Being
out of the Lord’s will can dampen our spirits.
When we neglect the spiritual disciplines of prayer, Bible study and
worship, it is so easy to feel far from God.
Sometimes we do not trust God and we carry the load on our own
shoulders. Having a downcast spirit may
be the direct result of a spiritual problem. How did David deal with
a downcast spirit? First, he made a
choice about himself. Secondly, notice
his communication with God. He talks to
himself and then he talks to the Lord (vs. 6, 9, 10). David is not using a
bunch of religious jargon. Instead, he
pours his heart out to God and tells Him how he feels. He looked to the one who is, “our refuge
and strength, a very present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1). David found God to be “the health of my
countenance” (Psalm 42:11). One of my favorite hymns
is, “What a Friend We Have in Jesus.” Pay attention to the words of this song: “What a friend we have
in Jesus, Conclusion: Do you have a downcast
spirit? Do not turn away from God but
turn to Him. You will find he is “a
friend that sticketh closer than a brother” (Proverbs 18:24). Seek God’s face so that yours will not have
to be downcast. David concluded that, “I
shall yet praise him” (Psalm 42:11).
Putting on the garment of praise always does one good. Dr. R.G. Lee tells how in 1918, Sgt. Major
Robert S. MacCormack saved the life of his commanding officer, Major Harry D.
Parkin, on a battlefield in France.
Parkin made it a point to send an annual letter of thanks to MacCormack. On the twenty-fifth
anniversary of the rescue, Parkin wrote the following note, “Dear Bob, I want
to thank you for the twenty-five years of life which ordinarily I would not
have had were it not for you. I am
grateful to you.” Dr. Lee went on to
say that for our salvation through trust in Christ we should give thanks, not
twenty-five times but 25,000 times.1 With David we should
say, “Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful
works to the children of men!” When we do that, our spirit
will change. Written by Rev. Eddie
Mallonee, Pastor ___________________ ABOUT THE AUTHOR Rev. Eddie Mallonee has been
the pastor of Second Baptist Church, Union City, TN since 1997. He is a 1981 graduate of Union University
and received the masters of divinity degree from New Orleans Baptist
Theological Seminary. He and his wife
Cathy have two children, Amber and Joseph. End notes: 1. R. G. Lee, Choice Pickings(Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan
Publishing House, 1961)
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