“My soul is cast down within me;
therefore I remember you
from the land of Jordan and of Hermon,
from Mount Mizar.”
– Psalm 42:6b
The Apostle Paul commands believers to “take captive every thought”. However, we struggle to do so. It’s difficult and we often deny the very possibility of doing so. Thankfully, David illustrates how to do so throughout the Psalms. From his writings, it’s clear that David struggled with overwhelming dark thoughts we might label depression. It’s certainly understandable, given the many terrible things that happened to him throughout his life, especially early on. However, David wasn’t content to stay in the dark places where his mind went.
When David’s soul was “cast down” – he was deep in despair – he consciously chose to think about other, better things as Paul later commanded in Philippians 4:8. David said that when he was deep in the valley of sorrow, suffering, and self-pity, overwhelmed by darkness, “therefore” he chose to remember God. He intentionally began thinking about God’s greatness and His great works across the history and land of Israel. From the waters of the Jordan in the east (which God parted to bring the people into the Promised Land) to the snow-capped peak of Mount Hermon in the north to the many “little hills” throughout the land (the meaning of Mizar).
God is everywhere and always active. IF we choose to look and see. IF we choose to remember and celebrate. That’s what David shows us how to do when his thoughts turned dark and he looked deep within himself. He took his thoughts captive, turning them outward and upward. He remembered what is true of God. His many attributes. His many activities. His perfect faithfulness and love. His presence.
May we all learn to do what David did. To take our thoughts captive when they threaten to derail our life and service. To turn our thoughts outward and upward when we’re overly focused downward and inward. To praise God, even in the darkest valleys of life. #FollowJesus