“Healing comes from hoping.”
I’d encourage you to read Psalm 42 and Psalm 43 before reading this post.
When I read these two Psalms my heart instantly thought, “Why are you, oh writer, so downcast? What is the story behind your sorrow and your pain? Why are you crying out in despair? Have you lost a battle, have you lost a loved one, have you lost your way?”
Upon some simple research, I discovered the reason for his despair.
“The psalmist bemoans all the troubles he has endured in his exile and prays for salvation from his despair. He laments his remoteness from the temple of God and expresses his desire for the renewal of the divine presence.”
Matthew Henry
He is longing for the presence of God found in worship, which he is missing because his enemies prevent him from going to the temple.
It all makes sense now as I read the first verse of chapter 42 again, “As the deer pants for the water so my soul longs after you.” I sit for a few minutes in this discovery: His heart is longing for the intimate presence of God that comes during worship.
I remember times when I have been prevented to worship. I may not have enemies that prevent me from gathering to worship, but I have been prevented because of a pandemic—we all know that longing. Also, in the deepest places in my heart, I have prevented myself because of deep grief and tremendous loss. I longed for it, but just couldn’t, and at times it felt as if I never would be able to again.
I find wisdom in these two Psalms. I am grateful for the way the writer can share his thoughts because they do bring clarity to mine. The writer asks himself the same question I asked and then speaks the truth and the gospel to himself.
“Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God.”
Psalm 42:5
“Put your hope in God,” at first, this self-advice seems a bit lacking. I mean, when I think about how I use the word ‘hope’ in everyday life, I might say something like, “I hope it doesn’t rain” or “I hope so”. That actually sounds full of so much doubt, doesn’t it? How can this help my longing hurting heart?
Knowing there must be more to hope than simply a lack of doubt, I research again. This time, I look up the Hebrew word for Hope. It is batah, which means confidence and security. Yes, that makes more sense. Confidence – not doubt. Security – not doubt. This truly helps me wrap my thoughts around the word hope, but I must also remember that it isn’t hope in just anything, it is hope in God. Confidence in God! Security in God! Even in the midst of pain and sorrow. Even when I don’t think my heart will be able to worship again.
These two Psalms reveal that healing comes from hoping. Whether we are separated from the presence of God in worship because of enemies, or hardship, or death, or pandemic, or whatever, just like the psalmist, we can trust that our deepest longing will be healed!
Even if I, even if you, can’t yet worship, we can have confidence: we will worship again. Put your hope in God!
