Making Despair Fly Away

The week I focused on Psalm 93, the weather channel was filled with news of an approaching hurricane. I thought often on verses 3 and 4:

“The mighty oceans have roared, O Lord. The mighty oceans roar like thunder; the mighty oceans roar as they pound the shore.

“But mightier than the violent raging of the seas, mightier than the breakers on the shore—the Lord above is mightier than these!”

I wrote in my journal, “I meditate on these verses and my mountain shrinks into a mole hill.” How pleasant it is to meditate upon His goodness, to allow our thoughts to dwell upon Him. “When I am preoccupied with the truth of God and His sovereign plans for me, all thoughts of discontent fly away—almost the instant I choose to meditate on God,” Jan Winebrenner said.

In Psalm 77, we find the psalmist in the depths of despair. “Will the Lord reject us forever Will he never show His favor again?” Then he began to meditate and those discouraging thoughts flew out the window: “I will meditate on all your works and consider all your mighty deeds.”

He then began: “Your ways, O God, are holy. What god is so great as our God? You are the God who performs miracles; you display your power among the peoples.” He ended with “You led your people like a flock.” Meditation on God’s greatness and answered prayers renewed David and lifted him out of despair.

Thank You, Father, for the powerful results of thinking about Your Word.

“I will meditate on all your works and consider all your mighty deeds” (Psalm 77:12).

“Oh the joys of those who...delight in doing everything the Lord wants. Day and night they think about his law” (Psalm 1:1,2 NLT).