Psalm 42-43: Why Have You Forgotten Me?

Because we live in a broken world, we will spend a lot of time in unhappy situations. We’ll have days when we we’re continually on the verge of tears. We’ll have seasons of loss and discouragement that feel unbearable.

• Loss of a loved one
• Divorce
• Adultery
• Disease
• Financial difficulties
• Betrayal
• Victim of gossip and slander
• Moving to a new state or country
• An empty nest when all the children grow up and move away
• A child who doesn’t respond to discipline – (spend a lot of time crying in the shower when our boys were little)
• A older child who walks away from the faith
• Relational struggles
• Pregnancy
• Postpartum
• Sleeplessness of caring for little ones
• Seasons of sickness in the family
• Menopause
• Monthly hormone ups and downs
• Loneliness
• Misunderstandings

These outward conditions tempt us to look inward and fall into despair. They can lead to inner turmoil and stress, and often extended times of deep discouragement and depressions.

Psalms 42 and 43 are written by a man who knew what it was like to feel completely overwhelmed. Tears have been his food day and night. He describes God’s breakers and waves washing over him, nearly drowning him. And He speaks honestly to God about it.

“Why have you forgotten me? Why have you rejected me?”

He’s hurting. He’s longing. He’s had enough. But he doesn’t give up. He fights for hope and he shows us how to live in the unhappy places of our lives.

If you’ve ever been discouraged, depressed, hopeless – and who hasn’t been?  — If you right now feel like you are drowning in the hardships of your life. This psalm is for you.

It gives us an example to follow. It gives us words to speak while we are suffering. It shows us how to respond to our trying circumstances.

Even in the times of our deepest distress, we can call out to God with this psalmist and have hope.

We’re going to copy, memorize, list, define, meditate, ask questions, sing, and pray as we work our way through this life-giving psalm.

My prayer, as we study these two psalms is that God will give you the tools to hold on to Him in the everyday difficulties of life, and in the times when it feels like He’s walked away.

Lessons by Email (members only)

Submit your email below to get one lesson emailed to you each day, starting tomorrow (must enroll in study first).

Bonus Resources (members only)

Course Information

Estimated Time: 31 days

Difficulty: Level 4

Categories: Psalms

Course Instructor

Pam Forster Author