Day 199: Going Through the Valley of Depression

Today’s Scripture: Psalm 13:1-6

Central Thought: Sing your way out of the valley.

David wrote this Psalm when King Saul was pursuing him in the wilderness. It was a game of ‘cat and mouse,” with David being the ‘mouse.” He hid in caves and strongholds, sometimes one step away from being caught and killed. God intervened time and again.

The constant pressure of being ‘wanted,” and the unrelenting efforts of Saul wore David down emotionally. He describes what it is like to be so low. It seemed like God had forsaken him and was hiding His face from him. David was sad and depressed every day.

The Christian is not immune to the pressures of life. We go through valleys and face the oppression of the enemy of our souls. Sometimes it is depressing to the believer to see those prosper who are not serving the Lord, while our way seems to be blockaded.

It bothered David that his enemy always had the upper hand. David describes his lowest state in verses 3 and 4. He despaired of life itself. Unless God intervened, David’s enemy would have succeeded, something that is not supposed to happen.

In the final two verses, the Psalmist remembered the goodness of God, and how he trusted in God in the past. He again rejoiced in God’s salvation as he sang and praised his way out of the valley!

We too must remind ourselves that God is still on the throne and has not forgotten us. He has been better to us than anyone deserves. He is a merciful God, and the reservoir of His grace will never run dry. Let us sing His praises!

Devotional Prayer: Lord, help me to remember to sing praises to You, even in times of despair.

Today’s Bible Reading: 1 Chronicles 24:1-26:11; Romans 4:1-12; Psalm 13:1-6; Proverbs 19:15-16