Psalms 81; 88; 92; 93: The Psalms read like a real life diary. They speak of great anguish as the writer feels threatened and chased. They speak of great victories and give thanksgiving to God, but they also record times of discouragement and heartache. These are the places people rarely go in revealing their hearts because it shows our not so glamorous side. Times of discouragement are hard for friends who don’t like to see you down and want to fix whatever is broken.

In today’s reading the Psalmist is real in his heartache
Psalm 88:1 “O Lord, God of my salvation,
I cry out day and night before you.
2 Let my prayer come before you;
incline your ear to my cry!
3 For my soul is full of troubles,
and my life draws near to Sheol.
4 I am counted among those who go down to the pit;
I am a man who has no strength,
5 like one set loose among the dead,
like the slain that lie in the grave.”

The reality is there are just going to be some down days. There will be times of great heart break and discouragement. But just as these times are real, there is also a great reminder in the Psalms of how to deal with days like this.

Psalm 92 “1 It is good to give thanks to the Lord,
to sing praises to your name, O Most High;
2 to declare your steadfast love in the morning,
and your faithfulness by night,
3 to the music of the lute and the harp,
to the melody of the lyre.
4 For you, O Lord, have made me glad by your work;
at the works of your hands I sing for joy.”

The medicine for a discouraged heart is to praise the Lord and to look at how He has taken care of you and blessed you. As we focus on the good it may not bring us fully out of the hard time, but it will help and encourage. It will also remind you that you are not alone!