Photo by Greg Rosenke
A dear friend, who is a mature believer, experienced a dark period last year. At his lowest point, he was unable to muster up enough energy to leave his house, and ended up just staying in his room, sleeping and lying in bed.
In Psalms 42 and 43, the psalmist describes a difficult season he is going through. He feels dejected, depressed, despondent and abandoned by God (Psalm 42:9). Crying day and night, he asks himself three times, “Why are you downcast, O my soul?”
The psalmist was a descendent of Korah. The sons of Korah were from the tribe of Levites who later became temple singers and worship leaders in Israel. Having served in the Temple, the psalmist had sound theology of God: God was his Rock and stronghold (Psalm 42:8,9; 43:2). He is authentic about his struggles, but he does not allow his feelings and emotions to control him. He does several things:
He chooses to speak truth to himself. Three times he responded, “Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.” Having experienced God’s faithfulness, he calls his soul to hope in God, shifting focus from himself to God, and waiting expectantly for God to act. “I waited patiently for the LORD to help me, and he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the mire…He has given me a new song to sing, a hymn of praise to our God.” – Psalm 40:1-3a, NLT
He remembers God through worship. He remembers the exuberant worship with God’s people in the house of God (Psalm 42: 4). Understandably, it is hard to worship God when our hearts are weighed down. However, when we make a deliberate choice to worship God, this act of worship lifts our spirit and connects the deep anguish of our soul to the deep mercies of God (“deep calls to deep”, v.7). “Though the fig tree should not blossom… yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation.” – Habakkuk 3:17-18, ESV
He holds on to God’s promises. “By day the Lord directs his love, at night his song is with me” (Psalm 42:8, NIV). God knows what we are going through, and He cares for us. He never stops loving us. We must replace the negative thoughts with the truths of God’s word. Our faith is not based on feelings but on God’s promises. “Send out your light and your truth; let them guide me. Let them lead me to your holy mountain, to the place where you live” (Psalm 43:3, NLT). Let us be guided by His love, light and truth.
There are times when it is ok not to be ok. We are just being human. In such times, we recall God’s truth, return to worship and cling on to His promises. We can also reach out to friends for support, and professional counsellors for guidance.
Grace and Peace,
Lam Kok Hiang
Leadership Mentor
我有位朋友，是个成熟的信徒。去年他一度陷入低谷时期；脆弱的时候甚至无法踏出家门一步，只能守在房间，卧床不起。
圣经诗篇第42及43篇里，诗人叙述自己面临的艰难。他因仇敌压迫而失落、以为遭 神弃绝了(诗篇42:9)。悲哀中他三次自问：“我的心哪！你为甚么沮丧呢？“
这诗人是可拉的后裔。可拉的众子属利未支派，从会幕到后来的圣殿，引领以色列百姓歌颂敬拜 神。诗人或许是曾在圣殿服侍的缘故，他深刻认识神，视 神为个人的磐石和坚垒(参阅诗篇42:8-9;诗篇43:2)。他坦诚内心挣扎，与其容许自身被感觉及情绪左右，他做了几件事：
他向自己宣告真理。他曾三次回复自问：”应当等候 神；因为我还要称赞祂，祂是我面前的救助、我的 神”。藉此呼唤灵魂想起 神的信实，以至转向仰望 神和等候 神作为。圣经说：“我曾切切等候耶和华；祂转向我，听了我的呼求。祂把我从荒芜的坑里，从泥沼中拉上来；祂使我的脚站在盘石上，又使我的脚步稳定。祂使我口唱新歌，赞美我们的 神；许多人看见了，就必惧怕，并且要倚靠耶和华”(诗篇40:1-3，新译本)。
他藉着敬拜纪念 神。诗人回忆往昔与众人在圣殿里守节并欢呼称谢 神(诗篇42:4)。心情沉重确实令人难于唱歌；然而我们若执意敬拜 神，敬拜之举能激发人的灵，把隐藏内心深处的愤懑和 神那至深无尽的慈爱连接，仿佛“深渊就和深渊响应”(诗篇42:7)。圣经说：“无花果树纵不发芽，葡萄树不结果，橄榄树无所出，田里无收成，圈内的羊被剪除，棚里也没有牛，我却要因耶和华欢喜，以救我的 神为乐”(哈巴谷书3:17-18，新译本)。
他紧紧抓住 神的应许。圣经说：“白天耶和华赐下祂的慈爱；夜间我要向祂歌颂，向赐我生命的 神祷告”(诗篇42:8)。 神顾念我们；祂的慈爱永远长存。应当以 神的话语取代负面思想。我们信仰的凭据是基于 神的应许而非个人感受。圣经说：“求祢发出祢的亮光和真理，好引导我，带我到祢的圣山，到祢的居所”(诗篇43:3)。让我们行在祂的亮光里，其中有慈爱和诚实。
我们生而为人，人总有不尽如意的时候。正处艰难的时候，我们回想 神的真道，敬拜祂和紧紧抓住祂的应许。不妨向朋友寻求支持，视情况亦可考虑专业辅导者。
愿 神赐您恩惠平安,
蓝国贤
会务导师
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