Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.
Psalm 42:11
When I took a counseling class in graduate school, my professor instructed us that we should be careful when beginning a question with the word “why.” Why, you ask? It can often put people on the defensive. “Why does that make you angry?” “Why are you quitting?” “Why are you depressed?”
This is why the verse from Psalm 42:11 made me feel like I was being interrogated. However, this is a shortcoming of the English language and a tone that was misrepresented in translation. When the Psalmist asked, “Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me?” it is not to make us feel shame about feeling downcast or disturbed. It is simply an invitation for us to explore our deepest feelings. This is a practice that is seldom encouraged in Western culture; exploring our emotions is uncomfortable for us to do, let alone admit or share with others. Yet, it is necessary for clarity, self-awareness, and spiritual maturity.
So ask yourself, “Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me?”
