Psalm 43:5

“Why are you downcast, my soul?

Why do you groan within me?

Wait for God, for I shall again praise him,

my savior and my God.”

If you look at life as a graph, you would see various degrees of high and low points. It would go up and down, some highs lasting longer, some lows lasting longer, and then middle ranges in between. Every choice we make impacts our future selves. Especially the choices we make during the low points. They can either liberate us. Or limit us.

“Why are you downcast, my soul?” I love that line. It so beautifully echoes the humanity within each of us and sounds so melodramatic and tragic. BUT! The author doesn’t just stay there in his misery. This is the moment when he will either be made or broken. Instead of giving up, he goes on to say that he “Waits for God. For he shall again praise Him.” This author knows that the low points won’t last forever. There will be a dawn beyond the darkness. There is an end to sickness. There is an end to heartache. Time really does heal a lot of things you think may never heal. It isn’t just some trite saying. It actually works. Because - unless you’ve completely given up and choose to sit and wallow in your valley (PLEASE don’t do that) - there will be an end to whatever has your soul downcast.

Wait for God. For you will find reasons to sing praise again. Maybe not right now… But it’s coming. I promise.