God, I'm not okay, but you are

1:00 AM


The Psalms has always been one of my favorite books. It is during times like my sisters broken engagement that I find myself in this book often. One of my favorites for the times when I am hurting is Psalm 42. What do I get from this Psalm? If I could summarize it I would say that it is a simply someone on their knees before God saying:
“God, I’m not okay, but you are.”

When life is hard, the truth that no matter what we feel, God is with us, is good, and is unchanging is huge. Just listen to part of this Psalm and you will see what I mean.

As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God.
My soul thirsts for God, the living God. When can I go and meet with God?
My tears have been my food day and night, while men say to me all day long, “Where is your God?”
These things I remember as I pour out my soul; how I used to go with the multitude, leading the procession to the house of God with shouts of joy and thanksgiving among the festive throng.
Why are you downcast, o my soul? Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God. 
Psalm 42:1-6a NIV

The Psalm goes on for several more verses, but you get the idea. This person was being brutally honest. They didn’t feel good. They felt dry, discouraged, downcast, and were searching for answers. Yet, they knew they could put their trust in God when they didn’t feel like it.

In some of the dark times in my life I have taken comfort from this Psalm and the raw honesty it has presented alongside real hope. Sometimes, I’m not okay. However, I’m grateful that God always is.

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1 comments

  1. This is one of my favorite passages in the Bible, especially these last few months. I did a blog post on it while back, myself, about satisfaction in God alone. Seriously, though - those are the best words, "God, I'm not OK, but you are." It's so comforting.

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