Why Are You Downcast, O My Soul?

Kenny Foster

March 7, 2021

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Sermon by Kenny Foster, Senior Pastor, from Psalm 42:5-11 & Romans 8:18-27
As we continue in our series on prayer during Lent, this Sunday we are considering prayer and discouragement. The Christian often faces discouragement and it is not uncommon to ask, “How can I pray when I am discouraged?” Discouragement occurs when our plans fail, our expectations aren’t fulfilled, people talk about us behind our backs, or our hopes are not realized. Discouragement drains our emotional strength to pray.
In our Old Testament reading the Psalmist acknowledges his discouragement and he directs his heart. In the Psalm we get some insight as to how to pray in our discouragement. Then in Romans 8 these insights are reinforced as our groans are affirmed and our weaknesses are helped by the Spirit, since, as the children of God, we have a glorious freedom that awaits us. As we remind ourselves of what makes us children of God, the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Lord fills us with his love by day and gives us his song in the night, thus lifting us out of discouragement’s trap.
In this sermon we will see how the gospel of Christ’s saving help is at the center of praying our hope and is the only way to overcome discouragement.