“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 42:5, 11; 43:5).

There are times when no amount of positive thinking, confessing, proclaiming, or praying can immediately pull us out of the pit of despair. Depression becomes a black hole sucking the light from all other emotions. In those times, all we can really do is convince our souls to hang on a little longer.

This is what the psalmist is doing. He is choosing hope without feeling hope. He’s choosing to trust God even though he can’t feel, hear, or see God. He’s clinging to the truth of God because it’s all he has. By bent of will, he is hanging on until the light of joy returns and his heart actually feels again the praise he’s forcing his tongue to proclaim. 

If you’re depressed and your soul is downcast within you, keep hanging on to God. Anchor your hope in Him. You will yet praise him. He is your Savior and your God. Wait patiently for Him. The day will come that He’ll lift you out of the pit of despair and set your feet on a rock. He will put a new song in your mouth, a song of praise to your God! (Psalm 40:1-3)