When Morning Comes, Psalm 143:7-12

     "Smoky Lake" by Evgeni Dinev  /   www.freedigitalphotos.net 

Have you ever felt so depressed, that you felt God was hiding His face from You?    That is a horrible feeling, but that is exactly what it is -- a feeling.  I think it must have something to do with the numbness that can come with deep sadness.  Or maybe, it is because a depressed person becomes so withdrawn, he or she is trying to hide from anything that could make one hurt more.  I know from my own experience that it is hard to be constant in the wake of depression.  Deep down in your heart of hearts, in your soul -- you know you cannot be separated from God, but  guilt for not being your normal self weighs you down.  
The thing about depression is that it takes  some dedication to working on your thought life, and turning the negative self-judging thoughts into positive statements.  Of course, that is only part of it:  I had to take medication and go to counseling.  I learned visualization exercises and ways to relax.  And I pleaded for God to heal me or spent a lot of time asking Him why I wasn't getting better faster when I did pray.


It sounds like David was experiencing similar feelings in verse 7.  In fact, I think he felt like he was dying inside.  However, he knew God.  David still trusted in God to guide him;  therefore, he prayed to have relief.  I love the first part of verse 8:  
let me hear Your lovingkindness in the morning.  After having experienced depression for a number of years, I realized the dread would pass, that often, I would feel better in the morning.  David asks God to teach him how to walk, for to You I lift up my soul.  God created us, He knows us better than anyone else.  Who better is there to ask to lift up our  souls?  Only God. 


David asks for deliverance from his enemies.  There are still people who need deliverance from enemies;  however, the enemy many of us need to have protection from are those things that have caused our bodies to fight us.  Since we live in this world, we still deal with the flesh.  We are born into a sinful world with imperfect bodies that are subject to aging, the effects of our genes, and diseases.  But God has given us hope.  He will deliver us, and one day we will cry no more tears.

I covered the last part of this Psalm in another post, so I would like to end on a personal note about myself.  I still deal with Chronic illnesses, but I can honestly say I am happy.  The Lord 
God allowed me to go through difficult circumstances with a body that did not take the constant stress well.  And I have learned more than I ever would have learned if I had not gotten sick.  It hasn't been fun, but He has answered prayer.  Moreover, I hope and pray others can benefit from what I have gone through.  That is why I write.

God bless you, and I pray healing for you or for the loved one in your life, who is dealing with Chronic illness.  God is faithful -- more faithful than we could ever be, because He is perfect.

The quoted verses are from Psalm 143.
“Scripture quotations taken from the NASB." 
www.lockman.org