— Charles Spurgeon 3.21.2020
Why are You Disquieted?
Psalm 42:5
Sorrow can be greatly alleviated if we give serious thought to the Word. Evidently, this is what Job did when he said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return there. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord” (Job 1:21). Here the patriarch recalls at least four subjects for serious consideration, and he draws great comfort from them.
Use Job as your example. Do not merely sit still and say, “I shall be comforted.” Look for themes on which to meditate profitably. Get an anchor–hold on some great and clearly ascertained truth, a truth in which you can have no possible doubt. Then you may begin to be comforted.
Do you remember how David talked to himself as if he were another person? “Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him for the help of His countenance” (Ps. 42:5). You see, there are two Davids talking and cheering one another. We should always be good company with ourselves. We should always be able to interrogate ourselves, and in deep sorrow we should be able to comfort ourselves.
When you have learned this lesson, you will have learned the art of comforting others.
