“My soul is downcast within me; therefore I will remember you from the land of the Jordan, the heights of Hermon—from Mount Mizar. Deep calls to deep in the roar of your waterfalls all your waves and breakers have swept over me. By day the LORD directs his love, at night his song is with me, a prayer to the God of my life.” Psalm 42:6-8
In times of sorrow or anguish, in times of disillusionment or discouragement, it can appear that it was the “waves” of God that caused us harm. It can become very difficult to seek God due to the pain. However, we should be like this Psalmist. He states that his soul is downcast but he starts this Psalm saying: “As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.” (1-2). In the midst of his pain, he calls out to God. He knows that only God can heal his wounds.
The Psalmist forces himself to remember all of God’s mercies in the past. For example, when Israel passed the Jordan River and when he gave the land of the ammonites to Israel thus, fulfilling His promise. He remembers Mount Mizar, a small mountain where the waters run from the mountains of Hermon into the Jordan River which gives life to all of the desert of Israel. The distraught Psalmist encourages himself to remember the kindness of God in His provision and faithfulness.
In the same way, we should encourage ourselves to remember the goodness of God in our salvation and in all of the blessings that he has bestowed upon us.
“Deep calls to deep in the roar of your waterfalls.” The void that we sometimes feel in the midst of trials leads us to the sound of the waterfalls of God. This is how we first get to know God and this is how we continue to know more of Him. The emptiness in our hearts demands the only thing that can satisfy; the waterfalls of the Spirit of God. In Him, we find happiness and fulfillment. Through Him, we have streams of living water within us. Only the waters of God can heal and cleanse our wounds. He loves us with the love of a Father. We can be certain that he will send His mercies. We can be certain that He will give us a new song.
Do not be angry with God. Submerge yourself in His waterfalls and you will find that the difficult path that you have been going through will lead to overwhelming joy and a closer walk with God.
