Some seasons the soul sinks and will not be talked out of it. The psalmists knew that darkness; they wrote from inside it, asking their own souls why they were cast down. God is not ashamed of His downcast children, and He does not leave them where they lie. These verses are honest about despair and stubborn about hope.
11 Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.
See also: Psalms 42:5 · Jeremiah 33:6 · Jeremiah 30:17 · Psalms 43:5
17 The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles. 18 The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit. unto...: Heb. to the broken of heart of a contrite...: Heb. contrite of spirit
See also: Psalms 147:3 · Psalms 145:18 · Isaiah 57:15 · Isaiah 61:1
28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
See also: Matthew 11:29 · John 7:37 · John 6:37 · Galatians 5:1
1 [To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.] I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry. I waited...: Heb. In waiting I waited 2 He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. an...: Heb. a pit of noise 3 And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD.
See also: Psalms 27:13 · Psalms 37:7 · James 5:7 · Psalms 37:23
21 This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope. recall...: Heb. make to return to my heart 22 It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. 23 They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. 24 The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him.
See also: Psalms 86:15 · Hebrews 10:23 · Luke 1:50 · Nehemiah 9:31
7 Hear me speedily, O LORD: my spirit faileth: hide not thy face from me, lest I be like unto them that go down into the pit. lest...: or, for I am become like, etc 8 Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee.
See also: Psalms 25:4 · Proverbs 3:5 · Psalms 32:8 · Isaiah 48:17
1 The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; 2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; 3 To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.
See also: Luke 4:18 · Luke 7:22 · Isaiah 42:7 · Matthew 11:5
4 But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers. for himself: Heb. for his life 5 And as he lay and slept under a juniper tree, behold, then an angel touched him, and said unto him, Arise and eat. 6 And he looked, and, behold, there was a cake baken on the coals, and a cruse of water at his head. And he did eat and drink, and laid him down again. head: Heb. bolster 7 And the angel of the LORD came again the second time, and touched him, and said, Arise and eat; because the journey is too great for thee. 8 And he arose, and did eat and drink, and went in the strength of that meat forty days and forty nights unto Horeb the mount of God.
See also: Jonah 4:3 · Numbers 11:15 · Jonah 4:8 · Deuteronomy 9:18
5 But I have trusted in thy mercy; my heart shall rejoice in thy salvation. 6 I will sing unto the LORD, because he hath dealt bountifully with me.
See also: Jude 1:21 · Isaiah 12:2 · Habakkuk 3:18 · Psalms 116:7
11 Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing: thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness;
See also: Jeremiah 31:4 · Ecclesiastes 3:4 · Jeremiah 31:13 · Isaiah 25:8
8 We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; in despair: or, altogether without help, or, means 9 Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;
See also: James 1:2 · Romans 8:35 · 1 Peter 4:12 · 2 Corinthians 12:10
25 DALETH. My soul cleaveth unto the dust: quicken thou me according to thy word.
See also: Deuteronomy 30:6 · Colossians 3:2 · Psalms 119:159 · Psalms 71:20
3 He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds. wounds: Heb. griefs
See also: Psalms 34:18 · Job 5:18 · Jeremiah 33:6 · Luke 4:18
38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
See also: John 10:28 · Romans 8:35 · Romans 14:8