I Will Remember
Psalm 42:5-6
Why am I so depressed? Why this turmoil within me? Put your hope in God, for I will still praise Him, my Savior and my God. I am deeply depressed; therefore, I remember You from the land of Jordan and the peaks of Mount Hermon, from Mount Mizar.
We can learn to control our emotions or allow our emotions to control us. In order to overcome a sense of despair, the psalmist practiced something we can all learn to do – the art of remembering. He remembered the goodness and faithfulness of God from different stages in his past.
Jordan means, “descending.” It refers to a lower region. The psalmist chose to remember God’s faithfulness through lowly times. Throughout life, as in earth’s geography, we will travel through low places and high places. We choose where we will dwell. Without doubt, God has lifted each of us from low places in the past, and He is ready to lift us again. There is no limit to the times He is able to lift us! We can be in a low place physically, yet reside in a higher place spiritually and emotionally. Eventually, our physical circumstances with catch up to the rest of our being.
Hermon means, “liberty, freedom.” The psalmist remembered the joys of liberty as he worshiped God. Perhaps, once held captive or restrained, he experienced the joy of being set free. Jesus frees us from the bondage of sin, and all who follow Him can relate to such freedom. He saved us from sin upon our conversion, and He continues to save us when we stumble, fall, or stray from Him and find ourselves held captive again. He paid the price for our freedom on the cross, and whom the Son has set free is free indeed!
Mizar means, “petty or small.” God is good and faithful to us, even in the places we think are too small to concern Him. If something matters to us, it matters to Him. If He gave His only Son to die for us, would He not surely care for smaller matters? Nothing is too great or too small to bring before Him. Remembering how he has been good to us in smaller things gives us hope and faith to believe for bigger things.
Don’t allow depression to control you. Take charge of it today by remembering God’s faithfulness to you in the past. He has led you through low places, peaks of victory, and in small matters that seemed too petty for His concern. Put your hope in God, and praise Him where you are. As you learn to depend totally upon His grace, you will find yourself praising Him for victory once again.
Have a blessed day!