Down and out. You’ll find a lot of self-help articles
on how to deal with feeling that way.

But I’d like to suggest that your “self” isn’t the best place to look for help. In fact, I’d like to suggest you look for what your Creator says about you. When you do, you’ll discover a much more dependable source for how to deal with feeling down and out…God. You can have hope in God. You can have an inexplicable joy that surrounds you in spite of what the day might dish out to you. Others will wonder what you’ve got. And some will want what you’ve got. It doesn’t mean troubles will magically disappear, but it does mean you’ll be able to deal with come what may.

In case you’ve never heard of him, there was a king in Israel, a long time ago, named David. Maybe you’ve heard the story of how he killed a giant of a man named Goliath? But did you know David was a songwriter? It’s true. I don’t pretend to be a man of the same stature as King David, but I identify with him. His songs exuded a lot of joy…joy in his relationship with God. There’s a place in the Bible where it says he “danced before the Lord”. His songs are collected in a book of the Bible called “Psalms”. Today a part of one of those Psalms popped up, in my Bible app, as the verse of the day. It said…

“Why are you so cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; for I shall yet praise Him, the help of my countenance and my God.”

Do you see what’s going on there?

David acknowledged feeling “down”. But he didn’t allow his soul’s feelings to overtake his knowledge of where his hope lives. He was “down”…but not out. He knew to praise God in spite of his circumstances and that would be the help of his countenance. Your countenance can be the look on your face or the ability to maintain your composure. God can put a smile on your face and lift you up when you lean toward feeling down and out. But He doesn’t use magic. He wants you to trust in Him and lean on Him…not yourself.

Is there a reason why you’d rather trust in your feelings than trust in God? If so, what is it? Do you truly believe your “self” is strong enough and wise enough to thrive in a world so full of selfish humans? If you do, write to me and tell me how you do it. And if you’d rather find out how to have a lasting hope in God…the God who loves you so much He sacrificed Himself for you…then write to me and I’ll do my best to help you discover His love. I don’t want you to feel down and out. I want you to be more than an overcomer.

Now, maybe you don’t know me well enough to buy something from me, yet. Ok, let’s change that. Get to know more about me and my worldview. Join the growing body of believers who’ve signed up for the Tony’s Rhyme and Reason Daily Devotional. And enjoy my daily flashes of light from the power of God’s love.

Stay tuned…