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^{[c] 6} and my God. PSalm 42:5

What kind of things restore your hope in God? What are you doing to make sure these things exist in your life?

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^{[c] 6} and my God. Psalm 42: 5

What kind of things make you down cast? Should they?

My tears have been my food
    day and night,
while they say to me all the day long,
    “Where is your God?”
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. Psalm 42:3,4

How long has it been since you have been in a joyful procession to the house of God with glad shouts and songs of praise? If it has been too long what are you willing to do to make it happen?

My tears have been my food
    day and night,
while they say to me all the day long,
    “Where is your God?”
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. Psalm 42:3,4

Have you ever wandered away from God and found yourself wishing to go back? What was that experience like?

Day and night I have only tears for food,

while my enemies continually taunt me, saying,

“Where is this God of yours?”

4My heart is breaking

as I remember how it used to be:

I walked among the crowds of worshipers,

leading a great procession to the house of God,

singing for joy and giving thanks

amid the sound of a great celebration! Psalm 42: 3-4

Have you ever been in a situation where people looked at your life and mocked God because of the spot you were in? What did you do?

As the deer longs for streams of water,

so I long for you, O God.

2I thirst for God, the living God.

When can I go and stand before him? Psalm 42:1,2

When can you go and stand before Him? How does that make you feel?

As the deer longs for streams of water,

so I long for you, O God.

2I thirst for God, the living God.

When can I go and stand before him? Psalm 42:1,2

What causes your longing for God to be decreased?