Out of the Blue

Psalm 42:1-11
1 As the deer longs for streams of water,
   so I long for you, O God.
2 I thirst for God, the living God.
   When can I go and stand before him?
3 Day and night I have only tears for food,
   while my enemies continually taunt me, saying,
   “Where is this God of yours?”
4 My heart is breaking
   as I remember how it used to be:
I walked among the crowds of worshipers,
   leading a great procession to the house of God,
singing for joy and giving thanks
   amid the sound of a great celebration!
5 Why am I discouraged?
   Why is my heart so sad?
I will put my hope in God!
   I will praise him again—
   my Savior and 6 my God!
Now I am deeply discouraged,
   but I will remember you—
even from distant Mount Hermon, the source of the Jordan,
   from the land of Mount Mizar.
7 I hear the tumult of the raging seas
   as your waves and surging tides sweep over me.
8 But each day the LORD pours his unfailing love upon me,
   and through each night I sing his songs,
   praying to God who gives me life.
9 “O God my rock,” I cry,
   “Why have you forgotten me?
Why must I wander around in grief,
   oppressed by my enemies?”
10 Their taunts break my bones.
   They scoff, “Where is this God of yours?”
11 Why am I discouraged?
   Why is my heart so sad?
I will put my hope in God!
   I will praise him again—
   my Savior and my God!

"The great need of the hour is a revived and joyful Church. Unhappy Christians are, to say the least, a poor recommendation for the Christian Faith; and there can be little doubt but that the exuberant joy of the early church was one of the most potent factors in the spread of Christianity."
-Spiritual Depression; Foreword, D. M. Lloyd-Jones

Hebrews 12:1-6
1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. 2 We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. 3 Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won’t become weary and give up. 4 After all, you have not yet given your lives in your struggle against sin.
5 And have you forgotten the encouraging words God spoke to you as his children? He said,
“My child, don’t make light of the LORD's discipline,
and don’t give up when he corrects you.
6 For the Lord disciplines those he loves,
and he punishes each one he accepts as his child.” (Proverbs 3:11-12)

Don't ignore the pains of life; remember your examples for living. (Ps. 42:6)

Hebrews 12:5a-b
5 And have you forgotten the encouraging words God spoke to you as his children? He said,
“My child, don’t make light of the LORD's discipline..."

Read Through the Bible in 2026;
Chronological: YouVersion; Blue Letter Bible; The Bible Recap
Canonical: From Genesis to Revelation in standard book order.
Blended: Daily readings from different sections; Robt. Murray M'Cheyne

Don't give up under trial, train with it.

Hebrews 12:5c
"...and don’t give up when he corrects you."

Psalm 42:7-8
7 I hear the tumult of the raging seas
   as your waves and surging tides sweep over me.
8 But each day the LORD pours his unfailing love upon me,
   and through each night I sing his songs,
   praying to God who gives me life.

Hebrews 12:10-11
10 For our earthly fathers disciplined us for a few years, doing the best they knew how. But God’s discipline is always good for us, so that we might share in his holiness. 11 No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way.

Hebrews 12:15b (Psalm 42:7-8, 5, 11)
Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many.