Thoughts on Anguish and Praise

I read Psalm 22 this morning and was struck by where the meditation on this scripture led me. David is so real! He's so like me. He goes back and forth with his faith and perception of God. "Why have You forsaken me God?" he asks, and catches himself with what he knows to be true - "Yet, You are holy; You are enthroned upon the praises of Israel; our father's trusted you, so should I; You delivered them, You do not disappoint" These are all thoughts that were likely running through David's mind, heart and pen as He honestly conversed with His God. Then, so like me, he turns again, to focus back on himself. Yes, God is all those things, He was all those things to those people, but "I am a worm". Those truths of God don't apply to me. I am in despair, I am discouraged beyond comfort, I...I...I... and suddenly the truths of our great God get buried under our pain and hurt and feelings of loneliness and we're sure we've been forgotten.
This is where it is imperative that we know and understand the character of God. He IS faithful, He can be trusted as or fathers have trusted Him before us. He is always the same and therefore true to Himself and His promises to those who love Him. In Isaiah 49 God promises to faithfully bring His people back to their promised land and He promises them that He could never forget them, for they are inscribed on His hands. Our hope in Him will never be put to shame.
How do we come out of the place of despair, the dark recesses of our hearts where we live; and the more we focus on them the darker they become? Both David and Isaiah tell us how to turn from our anguish - it is through praise. Psalm 22 verse 22 says "I will tell of Your name to my brethren; in the midst of the assembly I will praise You." And Isaiah 49:13 says "Shout for joy, O heavens! And rejoice, O earth! Break forth into joyful shouting, O mountains! For the LORD has comforted His people and will have compassion on His afflicted." The remedy for discouragement? Praise! Oh that I would put my eyes, heart and mind on God and allow His light to shine into my soul, chasing away the darkness of discouragement. When we praise God, we can no longer feel discouraged for our eyes have been taken off of ourselves and lifted to the heavens to see His glory. And David adds a little insight into it - not only does he praise but he tells others about God's greatness and he praises God in the midst of the assembly. Try speaking of God's greatness to others and see if it doesn't lift your eyes to Him. We can't speak of Him without it lifting our hearts because it is out of our hearts that we are able to speak. And speaking it aloud also speaks to our own hearts as we hear for ourselves the greatness of our God. Praising God in the midst of others who love Him can also lift the clouds from our hearts, if we will allow for them to be lifted and not choose to dwell in the dimness of our circumstances. Hearing voices raised in praise and joyfully joining in replaces the anguish with rejoicing.
So, I seek to have a greater heart of praise that I might sing the goodness of my God, remember the truths of who He is and encourage others to do the same!