Sometimes life just gets you down. What can you do? How can you get yourself in a more positive attitude?
If you find yourself in a stressful spot today, I have one suggestions ‘Turn to God’. Psalm 43 gives us two reasons we should turn to God.
Because life can be difficult, turn to God for defense.
Judge me, O God, and plead my cause against an ungodly nation: O deliver me from the deceitful and unjust man. 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? (Psalm 43:1-2)
Life can be hard. David was going through some hard times. But He knew two things about God.
God is a true judge. David asked God to judge him and to plead his cause. I don’t know if David had people lie about him or he wondered what others thought about him. But he knew God knew the truth about him. He wasn’t afraid of the truth and wanted God to make a true judgment. People can fool us and they can fool others. But no one can fool God. Even if people believe their lies to the end, God will be the ultimate judge of truth. He knows everything.
God is a powerful deliverer. David was overwhelmed with situations that were taking him down. And he had no power to stop it. So he asked God to deliver him. God was more powerful than any of the people or circumstances. God is more powerful than anything you face. Whatever it is, God can conquer it.
On September 11, 2001, Stanley Praimnath was working on the 81st floor of the World Trade Center South Tower when he saw an airplane flying directly toward him. Stanley prayed a quick prayer as he dove under a desk for protection: “Lord, I can’t do this! You take over!” The terrible impact of the plane crash trapped Stanley behind a wall of debris. But as he prayed and cried for help, Brian Clark, a worker from another office, heard and responded. Making their way through rubble and darkness, the two found their way down 80 flights of stairs to the ground floor and out. Prayer gave them direction.
Does God care? In David’s life, the lie was winning, the wrong was winning, and the enemy was winning. The ungodly, the deceitful, and the unjust were getting to him. So he wondered if God forgot him? If God cared, did he care he was losing at life’s battle? Yes, God did care. And at the end of the Psalm he reminds himself to hope in God. The story isn’t over. Hang on! It will change. So, just because the team is losing in the middle of the 9th inning, doesn’t mean the game is over. Trust God! Hope in God!
Talk to God. He knows the truth and He has the power to change any circumstance. So, don’t go to Facebook first. Talk to God first. Spend time in prayer.
Because life can be confusing, turn to God for direction.
O send out thy light and thy truth: let them lead me; 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. (Psalm 43:3-5)
David prays for light and truth. He says God’s light and truth will ‘lead me’ and ‘bring me’ to God.
“Sanctify them through thy truth; thy word is truth” (John 17:17)
“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path” (Ps. 119:105)
God’s Word is both truth and powerful. It will point out the right path we should take. And it has the power to take us there. The ultimate destination of our life is God’s presence. And that is what the Bible does – it tells us how to get to God.
How does the Bible give direction? It’s less instruction and more relationship. It soon becomes the difference between knowing what to do and knowing who is with you. You will recognize God’s silent voice. Then, as you acknowledge Him, He will direct your path. When you do what He says, He will bless what you do. So that, any decision, as long as it doesn’t conflict with His Word, made in submission to His lordship will be blessed.
Read, Hear, Study God’s Word – there is no better spiritual discipline that will help you grow.
In the 2 Kings 7:3-20, we discover a story of a horrible national situation in Israel. The enemy surrounded the capital, there was nothing to eat. Four men were lepers and had a drastic decision – stay where they were at and die or surrender to the enemy and probably die. So, they decided to run to the enemy camp. When they got there, they discovered that the enemy had run away. God had sent a commotion to the camp, they got scared, and ran home. There was food everywhere. But then they thought about all the people in the city. So, they went back to share their blessing with the rest of the people.
Maybe you feel the same way. You’re in an impossible situation and have few good choices. Here’s some insight for you:
#1 – God is working in the background. While you focus on the problem, He is working on the solution.
#2 – God will do more than you can expect.
#3 – When the problem turns around, don’t forget others.
When life gets you down, will you be a victim or a victor? Will you turn to God for defense and direction?
Why are you down? Hope in God. You will soon praise Him.
You can read some of my similar articles: 3 Positive Ways to Deal with Depression, 5 Keys to Good Grief.