Happiness is a choice! You can either choose to be happy, or you can choose to be downcast, discourage or depressed. Life is what you make it. Now, there are many who would disagree, citing chemical imbalances, adverse situations and circumstances as their reason. While these things may be certain in our life, the truth remains that happiness is dependent upon circumstances, but true joy is dependent upon a relationship, for the Lord gives us hope that results in joy.
The psalmist David was like any one of us. The Scriptures reveal that he had good days, and bad days. He was the King of Israel, but he was also a man who was greatly oppressed by his enemies. For a time, he was a hunted man on the run from King Saul, and even his own son who sought to take his life and crown.
In Psalm 42:5 David appears to be despondent. He seems to be overwhelmed by the circumstances that surround him. Thus, he asks the question, “Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me?” Obviously, David was worried, deeply concerned, and uneasy.
Many of us know exactly what David was experiencing because (as has been said) “We have been there, done that, bought the T-shirt and sold the movie rights.” No one stands alone. There have been many before us, and may who will follow, that experience the loss of joy from our daily lives.
As I read further what King David said, I conclude that there is often a reason for despondency. That reason is because there is a lack of hope. In the latter part of verse 5 David seems to awaken to the fact that he can come out from the depths of despair and into joy in one single bound.
It seems that a light has suddenly been switched on as he exclaims, “Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him for the help of His countenance.” Hope is necessary to joy and happiness. Hope takes us from despondency and depression to a joyful spirit; but hope has to have a source or a foundation, and the source of David’s hope was in the person of God.
What is your source of hope? Is your hope found in material things? Is your hope found in other people? Material things can be lost, stolen, or simply wear out and fade away. Others that we depend on to prop us up can fail. But, hope that we place in the person of God never fails.
Like David, when life gets hard to bear up under, may we be as David and exclaim, “Hope in God and give Him praise for His wonderful help.”
-Jerry L. Dunn, Oak Street Baptist Church
