Most likely you have heard of someone who has died in seeming poverty with thousands and thousands of dollars hoarded in some obscure secret place. These people died like beggars because they did not use the means they had.

Many of us today have trouble living within our income. Our plastic-money culture makes it easy to spend more than we have or can even get when we need it. In spiritual matters things seem to be the other way around—much like the hoarders who live in poverty. It is common for Christians to live on a low plane, far below their real means. We often live like spiritual paupers when, in fact, all the wealth of heaven is at our disposal. The human author of Psalm 43 was guilty of this for a while. He always had God’s power available to him, but in affliction and dark times he lost sight of it and failed to rely on it.

Then the psalmist began to draw on the divine resources available to him. First, he communed with God about his problems (vv. 1-4), and then he counseled with himself (v. 5).

The psalmist prayed for deliverance from his enemies (vv. 1-3). This was the right place to start. Prayer does change things, including the attitude of the one praying. He had no doubt that he would eventually experience victory (v. 4).

Consider this: This man was the way we often are—unnecessarily sad. He rebuked himself for this, as he should have (v. 5). The advice he gave himself is thoroughly biblical—“hope in God.” This is the cure for being cast down. As God’s child you can know He is on your side. Hope in Him!