Why Am I Sad?

I could ask, "why am I down?" or "why am I depressed?". I personally choose not to use the word "depressed" because of its clinical meaning of "feelings of hopelessness". The individual who is abiding in Jesus Christ by faith is never without hope! Yes, many, if not all, have various psychological needs and suppressed hurts that God helps deal with as we grow and are ready to face those difficult realities. Even the christian with the deepest wounds is never without hope. Do we have times of real sadness? There is a universal "yes". Psalm 43 is a beautiful example of those feelings that come and the very real and effective answer to those dark days. "Judge me, O God, and plead my cause against an ungodly nation: O deliver me from the deceitful and unjust man..." Here the Psalmist is pleading for help in an unjust and even deceitful world. The first step is to express to God what is going on and how you feel. Psalm 43 goes on..."For thou art the God of my strength: why dost thou cast me off? Why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?" Here is an honest question about these feelings. Why do I feel "down"? Why am I not feeling anything from God at this moment? Why do I let these things get me? The Psalmist gives these feelings and what a blessing the answer is as the Psalm continues! "O send out thy light and thy truth: let them lead me...". Let your truth, your light be what leads me, not my feelings! "...let them bring me unto thy holy hill, and to thy tabernacles. Then will I go unto the altar of God, unto God my exceeding joy: yea, upon the harp will I praise thee, O God my God. Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God". I love the honesty of this Psalm and the real answer that works for me every time! I hope this Psalm will help when you are feeling low! God bless you all for abiding in Christ and being lovers of truth when so many love only themselves!