Deep Calls To Deep (Psalm 42-43)

Tonight we're talking about depression. It's a word that carries a lot of weight, a lot of misunderstanding, and, unfortunately, a lot of stigma, particularly within the Christian community. I’m not a licensed clinician or psychiatrist. I’ve read books, but I’m not trying to act like I have all the answers to every situation. Still today, Christians need to talk about this because we, as believers, are not immune to depression's heavy fog. We, too, experience seasons of despair, periods of darkness that seem to consume our light.

‌The world around us has been hurling mud at everyone with a sense of morality. They twist the truth in such a way that makes us feel guilty for holding to the standards of righteousness handed down by God. So you don’t have to endure physical trauma to enter into this depressed state, though plenty of you have experienced physical trauma. Emotional and physical trauma are a part of life in the fallen world and we need to talk about them and find a way to overcome depressive thoughts.

‌But God’s word doesn’t leave us unprepared. King David, the man after God's own heart, was no stranger to this darkness. His songs and prayers in the Psalms bear testament to his seasons of despair. He gave voice to the human experience of depression in a profound way, and in doing so, he has left us a guidebook for navigating our own seasons of despair.

‌Our series, "Dealing With Depression," will navigate the tumultuous waters of depression through the lens of faith, drawing on the profound wisdom of the Psalms. Our goal is not to oversimplify depression or suggest that faith alone is a cure-all, but to offer comfort, understanding, and hope, and to remind us all that we are not alone in our struggles.

‌Today, we focus on Psalm 42 and 43, which we've titled "When Deep Calls To Deep." Just as a wave in the ocean brings another wave, this pair of Psalms brings us three waves of dealing with the internal struggle of doubt and despair. The author of these Psalms reveals his deep longing for God, his honest reflection on his situation of extreme anguish, his recollection of God's goodness, and his courageous questioning of his own thoughts.

‌Through his words, we will explore how to navigate the waves of depression that might roll into our own lives. And in the spirit of Psalm 42:7, "Deep calls unto deep at the noise of Your waterfalls; All Your waves and billows have gone over me," we will uncover how the depth of our despair can lead us to call out to the depths of God's grace.

‌Acknowledging Reality

Psalm 42:1–3 (ESV) — 1 As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God. 2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God? 3 My tears have been my food day and night, while they say to me all the day long, “Where is your God?”

‌Have you ever found yourself in a season of life where everything seems too overwhelming, where the smallest task feels like climbing Mount Everest, where the joy and colors of life seem to have been replaced by a heavy, gray cloud? If you answered yes, know that you are not alone. Even the Psalmist knew what it was to be in the depths of despair.

‌In Psalm 42:3, the Psalmist says, "My tears have been my food day and night, while they say to me all day long, 'Where is your God?'". Here we find the Psalmist, likely in exile, away from the familiar comfort of his home, his temple, his place of worship. He is in the depths of despair, a place we might refer to today as depression.

‌Depression is real, it's not just feeling sad or blue for a few days. It's a debilitating mental health disorder that affects millions worldwide, Christians included. The Psalmist's raw and honest words show us that it's okay to acknowledge when we're not okay. He teaches us that there is no shame in our struggle, no judgment from our God, and no reason for us to hide our pain.

‌It’s amazing to me that in the midst of my studies I found out that most people refuse to acknowledge their depression, but the body knows what has happened and responds. The following is a quote from a very extensive book on trauma and depression entitled “The Body Keeps Score”

‌“Most human suffering is related to love and loss. People need to acknowledge, experience, and bear the reality of life with all its pleasures and heart break. The greatest sources of our suffering are the lies we tell ourselves. Failure to attend to the truth results in a stunted life.”

‌Just as the Psalmist does, we must recognize and validate our feelings, not hide or ignore them. By acknowledging our pain, we take the first step in navigating the tumultuous waters of depression. Only when we truly acknowledge the reality of depression and its effects can we begin to understand its depth and, most importantly, begin our journey toward healing and recovery.

‌Remember, our God is a God who sees us, who knows us, and who is close to the broken-hearted. There is no darkness too dark for His light to penetrate, and there is no depth of despair too deep for His love to reach. So, as we continue our exploration of Psalm 42 and 43, let us carry with us the courage to acknowledge our struggles and the faith to believe in the healing power of our God.

‌Direct Your Heart

Psalm 42:4–5 (ESV) — 4 These things I remember, as I pour out my soul: how I would go with the throng and lead them in procession to the house of God with glad shouts and songs of praise, a multitude keeping festival. 5 Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation

The Psalmist, even amidst the waves of depression, expresses a deep yearning and thirst for God. He states in Psalm 42:1-2, "As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God?" In verse 42:4, the Psalmist recalls, "These things I remember, as I pour out my soul: how I would go with the throng and lead them in procession to the house of God with glad shouts and songs of praise, a multitude keeping festival."

‌Even in the depths of despair, the Psalmist's soul thirsts for God. This is not a casual or superficial desire but a profound, deep-seated yearning for the presence of God - a thirst only God can quench. The Psalmist recognizes that true comfort and strength can only come from being in God's presence, and it is there he wishes to be.

‌Depression often leaves us feeling empty, drained, devoid of life. It is in these dry, parched periods of our lives that our soul, more than ever, needs the living water that only God can provide. Just like a deer longs for water, our souls should long for the comfort, the strength, the peace that comes from being in the presence of God. Depression often makes us feel isolated, disconnected, even from God. But in these moments of disconnect, we can choose to lean into the very longing that depression tries to suppress - our desire for God. Instead of letting depression push God away, we can let it be a catalyst that draws us closer to Him.

‌Seeking God's presence does not necessarily mean that our circumstances will instantly change, or that the pain will instantly go away. However, it does mean that we are not alone in our struggle. We can find solace and strength in God's presence. His strength is made perfect in our weakness. His peace surpasses all understanding.

‌2 Corinthians 12:9 (ESV) — 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Philippians 4:6–7 (ESV) — 6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

In our lowest moments, it's natural to question God's presence or even His existence. However, the Psalmist shows us that it's in these moments that we must remind ourselves of His faithfulness, His love, and His promise to be with us, even in our darkest hours.

‌The Psalmist shows us how to lean into our desire for God. He pours out his soul, he doesn't just talk to God; he shares his deepest emotions with Him, he brings his full self to God, despair, and all. And he remembers the times of joy, the times of worship, using them as a beacon to guide him through his current darkness.

‌As we navigate our own periods of depression, let us take a page from the Psalmist's book. Let's lean into our longing for God. Let's pour out our souls to Him, remembering His past faithfulness, His goodness, His love for us. We can lean into prayer, dive into His Word, engage in worship, or just sit in silent meditation, recognizing His presence with us. And as we do so, we will find that even in our despair, our desire for God can be a powerful force that propels us towards hope, healing, and wholeness.

‌Be Honest

‌As we continue to navigate through Psalms 42 and 43, we encounter the Psalmist's profound honesty in expressing his emotions to God. In the midst of his depression, he does not shy away from pouring out his soul. Read the next wave of prayer to God.

‌Psalm 42:6–11 (ESV) — 6 and my God. My soul is cast down within me; therefore I remember you from the land of Jordan and of Hermon, from Mount Mizar. 7 Deep calls to deep at the roar of your waterfalls; all your breakers and your waves have gone over me. 8 By day the Lord commands his steadfast love, and at night his song is with me, a prayer to the God of my life. 9 I say to God, my rock: “Why have you forgotten me? Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?” 10 As with a deadly wound in my bones, my adversaries taunt me, while they say to me all the day long, “Where is your God?” 11 Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.

Pouring out his soul here means expressing his innermost feelings, his fears, his despair, his longing, his confusion - everything. The Psalmist's relationship with God is so intimate, so real, that he feels safe expressing his deepest emotions to Him. He shows us that God welcomes our honest emotions, even the ones we might be tempted to hide.

He points to God as the source of his trouble in a very ironic way. During the first prayer he was thirsty for God. Now he says that God is drowning him in suffering. “Deep calls to deep” indicates that he is moving from one bottomless pit to another, beaten by the current along the way. These feelings are irrational. God has the power to stop his suffering, but that doesn’t mean he is responsible for the suffering. Even so, he cannot tell what is happening, and this is how he feels.

‌Depression can often make us feel as though we must bottle up our emotions, that we must put on a brave face, that we must not burden others, even God, with our pain. However, this could not be further from the truth. God invites us to cast all our anxieties on Him, for He cares for us (1 Peter 5:7).

‌God doesn't want us to suppress our emotions; He wants us to express them to Him, to pour out our souls to Him. He can handle our doubts, our questions, our despair, our pain. In fact, He longs to provide comfort, to bring healing, and to restore hope.

‌As we grapple with depression, let us follow the example of the Psalmist by pouring out our souls to God. Let's not be afraid to express our pain, our emotions, and our deepest thoughts to Him. He is a refuge for us, a very present help in times of trouble (Psalm 46:1). We will look at that closer next week.

‌When we pour out our souls to Him, we make room for His healing touch in the deepest areas of our pain. So let us come to Him with open hearts and open hands, ready to receive the comfort, the peace, and the healing He provides.

Cling To Hope

‌In the final verses of each wave in Psalms 42 and 43, we encounter a recurring refrain: "Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God." This builds to a crescendo in Psalm 43.

Psalm 43 (ESV) — 1 Vindicate me, O God, and defend my cause against an ungodly people, from the deceitful and unjust man deliver me! 2 For you are the God in whom I take refuge; why have you rejected me? Why do I go about mourning because of the oppression of the enemy? 3 Send out your light and your truth; let them lead me; let them bring me to your holy hill and to your dwelling! 4 Then I will go to the altar of God, to God my exceeding joy, and I will praise you with the lyre, O God, my God. 5 Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.

Despite the Psalmist's deep despair, he clings to hope, specifically hope in God.

‌Depression often clouds our view of the future. It can make us feel as though our current state of despair is all there is and all there ever will be. People who have gone through a traumatic experience and are suffering from PTSD and becoming suicidal struggle with this. They can’t imagine a positive outcome. The Psalmist himself acknowledges his downcast soul, his inner turmoil. But he doesn't stop there. He goes a step further. He talks to his soul. He questions his despair and reminds himself to hope in God.

‌Hope is not wishful thinking or blind optimism. Hope is a confident expectation of God's faithfulness and His promise of restoration. And this hope becomes a lifeline in times of depression. This hope does not deny the reality of our current situation but clings to the reality of God's love and His promises.

‌The Psalmist teaches us that even in the darkest depths of depression, we can have hope. Not because our circumstances are hopeful, but because our God is faithful. We can, like the Psalmist, choose to hope in God. To remind ourselves that He is our salvation and our God. To trust that we shall again praise Him.

‌To those who are struggling with depression, imagining a hopeful future may seem impossible. Yet, God extends His promise to us - a promise of a future and a hope (Jeremiah 29:11). God's promises are not dependent on our circumstances or feelings. They are unchanging and reliable.

‌We may not be able to see how our situation can improve. We may not see the light at the end of the tunnel. But we can trust in God's unchanging character and unwavering promises.

‌So, let us echo the Psalmist's refrain. Let us speak to our souls and choose to hope in God, for He is our salvation and our God. In this hope, we find strength to persevere, courage to face another day, and peace in the midst of our turmoil.

‌Conclusion

‌Depression can often feel like an insurmountable mountain, a treacherous storm, or a never-ending tunnel. It is a complex and multifaceted struggle that many of us face. But as we've journeyed through Psalms 42 and 43 today, we've seen that even in the depths of despair, there is hope.

‌We've learned from the Psalmist's experience that it's okay to acknowledge our pain and despair, to let our souls long for God, to remember His faithfulness, to pour out our emotions before Him, and most importantly, to hope in Him amidst our despair.

‌Depression is real, and it's hard. But God is even more real, and He is our hope. We can bring our darkest thoughts to Him, and we can trust Him to walk with us through the darkest valleys. He doesn't promise to instantly remove our struggles, but He does promise to be with us, to comfort us, and to provide a hope that endures.

‌Remember, it's okay to seek help. It's okay to reach out to others, to connect with a trusted friend, a family member, or a mental health professional. You don't have to face depression alone.

‌Let us hold onto the words of the Psalmist, "Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God." No matter how deep the valley, no matter how dark the tunnel, let us cling to hope. Hope in God. For in that hope, we will find the strength to face tomorrow, the courage to continue our journey, and the peace that surpasses all understanding.

May God give us grace as we navigate the challenges of life, and may His hope be a beacon of light in our darkest hours. God bless you all.