What to do when you’re feeling down.
Psalm 77 shows us the prayer journey of someone who is under great pressure and in great distress (Ps 77:2). They become overwhelmed with self-pity and cannot be comforted.
Eugene Peterson says that “self-pity reduces the universe to a personal wound that is displayed as proof of significance. Pity is adrenalin for acts of mercy; self-pity is a narcotic that leaves its addicts wasted and derelict”.[1]
He goes on to say that “self-pity almost always deals with accurate facts…..” and that characteristically it says that “someone else, often God, is responsible for my trouble”.
He gives three points from this Psalm regarding self-pity; firstly “self-pity grovels in nostalgia “ (v5). It “considers and remembers the past only to feed the injustice of the moment and to avoid doing anything about it”.[2]
Secondly “self-pity is morbidly introspective (v6). It remembers the dark songs of the night and only feels worse. Thirdly self-pity is theologically ignorant (v7). Notice the contradiction in the question, “Has his unfailing love vanished forever ?” What God has revealed about himself is now subject to our warped and distorted perspective because of present troubles.
The change comes in verse 10. Verses 3 to 6 are full of self; “I remembered”, ”I groaned”, “I mused”, “I thought”. But after verse 10 our meditation is on God, we are still remembering and considering, but now it is “the deeds of the LORD” and his “miracles”, and all his “works”, and his “mighty deeds” (v11-12).
Self-pity keeps us from the presence of God. We should not suppress our self-pity, but we should offer it to God.
We must be careful when we plant not to be robbed during our time of corporate worship. Yes we need to work hard, and be responsible for many practical things. But we also need the presence of God to refresh and empower us. Remember that Jesus said he would build his church. When we come to worship him, we must surrender all thoughts of self-pity, and yes, all thoughts of what has gone wrong or what could go wrong. Do not be robbed of his empowering presence because of troubles, no matter how big they are.
God’s footprints are invisible (v19), but his hand is there to redeem (v15). He is able to lead us out of our slavery in Egypt. He sends both prophet and priest, to guide and direct, and to care for and feed.
In the Old Testament he sent Moses and Aaron. In the New Testament we have apostles and prophets, and pastors and teachers. But we also have Jesus, the prophet better than Moses, and the high priest better than Aaron.
Hebrews 3 tells us that “Moses was faithful as a servant in all God’s house”, but “Jesus has been found worthy of greater honor than Moses just as the builder of a house has greater honor than the house itself.” (Heb 3:3). We can look back and see that Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt and faithfully led them to the Promised Land. They were tested in the wilderness but that was just part of the journey. God was always with them leading them, and training them for future victory. What seemed like abandonment was just training for victory. And it is the same for us today!
We must not become bitter, and we must not miss the grace of God during our time of hardship and training. (Heb 12:7 & 15). Jesus is with us even if we don’t see evidence of him. His footprints are invisible. So because of Jesus the builder of God’s house we are encouraged to “encourage one another daily… so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.” (Heb 3:13).
Jesus is also a high priest greater than Aaron. Aaron went into the Holy of Holies once a year on behalf of the whole nation. (Lev 16). But Jesus has opened the way for each one of us to “approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”( Heb 4:16). Not just once a year, but whenever we have need.
Coming into the presence of God is essential for any church community. God leads his people as a community. “You led your people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron.” (Ps 77:20). God the great heavenly shepherd is leading his flock, but practically he sends and empowers apostles and pastors on earth to lead the church.
In our time of difficulty we must remember that Jesus is building us into his house, and remember that he has opened the way for us to find grace to help us.
We are to find grace from the throne of grace, and we are to encourage and build each other up not letting bitterness rob us of God’s amazing grace.
Then we shall pass through the wilderness of testing into the place of promise!
