A Prayer When You Feel Depressed — sacred illustration
✶ Our Bible Moments No. 186 / 253

Comfort & Not Alone

A Prayer When You Feel Depressed

Psalm 42:11

Psalm 42:11 is the refrain of a psalm of the sons of Korah, in which the psalmist, far from the house of God and taunted by enemies, speaks to his own downcast soul.

Lord, I feel low, and I don’t fully know why. My soul is downcast, and the unease inside me won’t go away. I don’t have much to give You today, only this honest prayer. Hold on to me when I can’t hold on to You. Help me reach out to the people You have put around me. I put my hope in You. I will yet praise You, my Savior and my God. Amen.

Psalm 42:11 is the refrain of a psalm of the sons of Korah, in which the psalmist, far from the house of God and taunted by enemies, speaks to his own downcast soul.

The Scripture

“Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why the unease within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my Savior and my God.”

— Psalm 42:11

Prayer points from Psalm 42:11

  1. Tell God honestly how you feel, even if it is only a few words
  2. Ask Him to hold on to you when you can’t hold on
  3. Ask Him to show you one person you can reach out to today
  4. Pray for wisdom and care for your doctors or counselors
  5. Put your hope in God, even before the feelings change
  6. Thank Him that He is still your Savior and your God

About this verse

Psalm 42 gives words to a heaviness many people know. The psalmist says, “My tears have been my food both day and night.” He remembers happier days leading the festive procession to the house of God, and he feels forgotten: “Why have You forgotten me?” The refrain comes three times across Psalms 42 and 43: “Why are you downcast, O my soul?” He does not pretend the feeling away, and God put his lament in Scripture rather than scolding it. He chooses where to put his hope even before the feelings change: “I will yet praise Him.” Feeling depressed is not a failure of faith, and God often helps through friends, pastors, doctors and counselors as well as through prayer. This prayer is for anyone feeling low, numb or hopeless. If you are thinking about ending your life, please call or text 988 in the US, or your local emergency number; you can pray and reach out for help at the same time.

When to pray this prayer

More prayers for comfort & not alone

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