The Mirror of the Word and other works by C.E. White can be purchased on her website, cewhitebooks.com or on Amazon.

“Why are you in despair, my soul? And why are you restless within me? Wait for God, for I will again praise him for the help of his presence, my God.”

—Psalm 42:11

This is a wonderful example of taking our thoughts captive (2 Corinthians 10:5) by talking back to our own minds and preaching to our own hearts. We know that the Lord is where our hope and help come from and that he is our only firm foundation, but we forget. Our soul despairs over our circumstances or grows restless and dissatisfied.

But those feelings don’t rule us. We might still feel despair and restlessness, but we choose to act on what we know—that our hope in God is sure, he is fully good and wants good for us, he works all circumstances to good for believers, and our eternity with him is sure.

We too often accept our thoughts and feelings, allowing them to control us instead of standing up to them and telling them the truth of who God is and what he’s promised. Philippians 4:8 says to think on the things that are true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, excellent, and worthy of praise. It says that living like this brings peace and puts us in God’s presence (Philippians 4:9).

So when our hearts are despairing or restless, first, we remind them to wait on the Lord, who is our only salvation. Next, we replace those despairing thoughts with things that are true, honorable, and just, etc.

Our emotions do not always lead us in truth. In those times, we focus on what we know, despite what we might feel.

We can always praise him for the help and peace of his presence, because he is always faithful and never leaves us.

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