“Now it is only faith that shows a man the end and the issue of all his troubles. It is faith which looks beyond the present to a time when we shall yet praise Him! In his book he writes the following: It is faith in Christ that bears up the believer’s heart against all discouragements. William Bridge, in his excellent book entitled A Lifting Up For The Downcast, underscores the place of faith in such times of great trial. It is the grace of saving faith which was renewed in the Psalmist’s heart. It is faith which lays hold of Christ and all of God’s promises in Him. To know that you have found Him is to have your faith graciously renewed. In this Psalm we have what one writer said every believer must know: what it is to feel like you have lost Christ and what it is to know that you have found Him again. The Psalmist speaks as one who is separated from Jerusalem, the very place God chose to make His throne.
We face great temptations and dark providences, a weakness in our faith and a lack of assurance, the consequences of our own sins and a sense of being deserted by God. And there are many things that believers experience which can certainly lead to a soul being cast down.
And they are rightly considered when they are embraced by faith.Įvery believer surely knows what it is to experience discouragements in this life only to be graciously reminded by God, in His providence, that hope still remains and God’s promises are true-even as Christian came to hope in the depths of Doubting Castle as he pulled from his bosom the reminder of God’s faithfulness. Here we have the twofold testimony of the Psalmist: first, that the child of God can be discouraged and cast down in this life and secondly, that in such times, one must be reminded that there is really no reason for such a condition, when the promises of God are rightly considered. And so, as we read this most familiar Psalm we can hear the frustration of the writer as he interrogates his own soul, searching out why the ordinary experience of the redeemed is not his present possession. In fact, the greater part of the Psalms is taken up with the praising of God that results from this very fact: God is faithful to deliver His people, to give them strength and peace, and to quiet their souls within them no matter the circumstances of life. Indeed, He has promised this to all who belong to Him in Christ - “The Lord will give strength to His people, the Lord will bless His people with peace.” ( Psalm 29:11). It is a wondrous thing that our God grants peace and quietness of soul to His own. Please read it for yourself.Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God for I shall yet praise Him, the help of my countenance and my God.
There is just so much good spiritual food to feed on. There is also a long explanation of the doctrine of election starting on page 249 and explains why it is a comfort to the afflicted soul. This work is a true balm to the soul and anyone suffering from this affliction should read it and highlight. Take this excerpt from page 69: “And if you look into Scripture, you will find that the Lord does not condemn a man, no not a wicked man, barely for the act of his former sin, but because he will not turn from it.psalm 7.11,12…The Lord has prepared instruments of death against every wicked man but yet, notwithstanding, though a man be never so wicked, if he turn unto the Lord, God will not discharge those instruments of death upon him, yea, though his sins have been never so great but says the text, ‘If he turn not’ (not because he hath sinned before, only, but because he turns not from his sin), ‘ He will whet his sword he hath bent his bow, and made it ready.’ Now there is, always, in the saints and people of God, a turning disposition, although they do sin against God there is always, I say, a turning disposition in them, and therefore the Lord will not discharge the instruments of death upon them: surely, then, they have no reason to be quite discouraged in this respect.”īridge finishes the chapter on discouragements due to sin with: “Now therefore, if at any time you find your soul in any sin, then say, This has my unbelief done.” He says to trace all your sins to unbelief.īridge concludes with the remedy for discouragement to be faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Even if you have sinned you should not be discouraged. He anticipates every instance imaginable. He begins with the Christian should never be discouraged no matter what the circumstances. Martyn-Lloyd Jones’ “Spiritual Depression is also excellent on this subject but Mr. I cannot say enough of the excellence of this work and how it has benefited my soul.
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