At the beginning of December 2021, I was unexpectedly informed by the Central Office that I would be retiring on December 31st. However, I had already petitioned the Texas Retirement System for my retirement to begin on the following June 1st. I was informed that my tenure as a teacher had finished, my final paycheck would be at the end of the month, and my health insurance would end on December 31st. I panicked. I wouldn't have money to pay any bills because my pension was not set to begin for six months. I am diabetic, and I worried about being able to purchase my insulin. Was I discouraged? Yes, and I was restless, too.

Psalm 42:5 – Why are you discouraged, my soul? Why are you so restless? Put your hope in God because I will still praise him. He is my savior and my God. (GW)

David speaks to his soul, to himself, and asks why he is feeling discouraged, why is he so restless. In effect, he's asking, "Why are you doubting the Lord? Why are you feeling as though God cannot save and rescue you? You know that God is greater than any situation. You know that God has rescued you every time that you have needed Him to. So why is this situation different? Why are you feeling downcast, gloomy, and disheartened? Why are you trying to produce an answer and a defense? Are you listening to others who imply that God has forgotten you?"

Was I still able to praise and hope in the Lord? Yes, with His help, my retirement was finalized much later, and I received two extra paychecks, which carried me through April 1st. I was also able to get a Medicare Advantage plan effective February 1st at no cost. Once again, God showed me that He is my God and my Saviour. Why did I ever doubt?

There are times when we need to talk to our souls, our inner beings, and remind ourselves that the Lord is our Redeemer and Saviour. We need to remind our souls that the Lord showed us that we could hope in Him because Jesus rescued us by giving His life for us. We need to remind ourselves that we are no longer slaves to our old natures that did not have peace or contentment. We need to remind our souls that we can rest in the Lord because He takes all our cares and burdens and gives us beauty for ashes and the oil of gladness instead of mourning.

Prayer: Lord, help us to praise You in all circumstances. Help our souls to praise You, no matter how confusing, impossible, or gloomy the path may seem. Instead of looking at what is surrounding us, help us remember that we are safe in Your loving hands, and that Your love will protect us from anything that may make us feel that we are alone, defeated, or abandoned. Help us never to forget that we can praise You in all circumstances, because You will never leave us or forsake us. Amen.