Dealing with depression is a real problem, and the people of God aren't exempt. When depression sets in, we feel listless, passive and sad.

Some of God's best were smitten with it. Moses became so depressed, he asked God to kill him. Elijah, feeling spent, sat down under a juniper tree and requested to die. Jeremiah came to the place where he wept day and night. John the Baptist got so down while in prison that despair and doubt so filled his mind that he wondered if Jesus was truly the Christ.

Great leaders of history had their bouts with depression. The great Winston Churchill whose voice gave stability and guided Great Britain through World War II, and who said, "Never, never, never give up" was himself prone to times of depression. Churchill often became so depressed that he called it "a black dog" that followed him around. Preachers of the past like Charles Spurgeon and Martin Luther spoke of their depression and despondency.

A study of the giants of the restoration history will reveal that men like Water Scott, Raccoon John Smith and Moses E. Lard were given to seasons of moodiness and despair.

And yes, David in our text was cast down! He asked, "Why?" David had a good talk with his soul. And when he did, he found three things that gave him confidence. Three things can help us get up when we are cast down:

DAVID REMINDED HIMSELF THAT HIS FELLOWSHIP WAS IN GOD. Hope in God (Psalms 42:5). I shall yet praise Him! I will remember His loving kindness in the day time, and He will be my song in the night (42:6-8). God cares how you feel! God understands! 

DAVID REMINDED HIMSELF THAT HIS FELLOWSHIP WAS IN GOD. Hope in God (Psalms 42:5). I shall yet praise Him! I will remember his loving kindness in the day time, and He will be my song in the night (42:6-8). God cares how you feel! God understands!

DAVID REMINDED HIMSELF THAT HIS FOUNDATION WAS IN GOD. I will say to God, my rock (42:9). God is the ANCHOR that will stand before the winds and waves. Our life can never be any stronger than its foundation. Your job, family, health and wealth can be threatened, but God is sure!

AND DAVID REMINDED HIMSELF THAT GOD IS OUR FUTURE. Hope in God! Hope is our expectation--our certainty. In spite of what the problem is; what the doctor says; what the banker says; what the economist says, OUR HOPE IS IN GOD!

Remember, Christian! When you are depressed, remind yourself that God is your fellowship, your foundation and your future.