Mourning into Praise: Psalm 42

September 11, 2001, genecide in the Middle East, slavery in Sudan-----and the world looks at us and cries, as did David's enemies, "Where is your God?"
Beneath the challenge of these words we need to hear the fear and insecurity. We must be sensitive to the sad emptiness that is so prevalent in our world----a world that sees nothing but the present darkness----that has not our hope of glory in eternity.
In this Psalm, David is downcast as he remembers a happier time; a time when he was honored and joyful, a "top of the world" experience. He has gone from elation to a time when he has fed on his own tears. How poignant a picture that is of us in our misery as we go back, over and over, to feast on our own sorrows and dissappointments. We can so easily become gluttons of pain and resentment, allowing them to consume every chance of a taste of joy.
Yet, in the midst of his sorrow, David's memories of God's faithfulness sweep over him like waves and breakers of the sea. He recalls those "stones of remembrance" that mark God's watchcare over his life and says, "Why so downcast, O my soul?"
He knows how God has always been present in his life and has not, nor will He ever, forsake David.
It is so good to know that we, like David, can put our hope in God. He is constant and His love can break through our sorrow and discouragement as we recall His past faithfulness and turn our mourning into praise. As we take charge of our thoughts and submit them to God's transforming love, we experience a renewal of our minds that is beyond our human capability----a new attitude, a new focus, a new hope can come as we turn mourning into praise.