Faith in Focus #32
A reflection from Connection Church and other spiritual events from the week
Faith in Focus is a weekly reflection on what God has been teaching me throughout the week regarding my faith. Whether it’s personal interactions, reading, or the Sunday sermon, God speaks through it all, and I hope this helps you focus on His mission.
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Sermon Reflection
Psalm 42 and 43 give voice to the ache of spiritual depression while refusing to leave us there. These psalms teach us that even in our deepest sorrow, hope is found by preaching God's truth to our hearts and trusting His sovereign hand.
Based on the sermon by Nathan Schaap, Connection Church Sioux Falls, June 14, 2026.
Hope in the Dark: Preaching the Gospel to Your Pain
This week at Connection Church, Elder Nathan Schaap guided us through Psalms 42 and 43. While divided into two chapters in our modern Bibles, many scholars believe these were originally one unified Psalm. The repeated refrain found in both chapters supports that idea.
“Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God” (Psalm 42:5, ESV).
At first glance, these Psalms can feel surprisingly heavy. The writer is discouraged, overwhelmed, grieving, and spiritually exhausted. Yet woven through every verse is a stubborn hope that refuses to die.
Nathan opened with an illustration from the television series Mad Men. In one memorable scene, advertising executive Don Draper describes nostalgia as something deeper than memory. It’s an ache. A longing for something that once was. A desire to return to a place of comfort, joy, or belonging.
That longing is all over Psalms 42 and 43.
The psalmist remembers worshiping with God’s people. He remembers joy. He remembers nearness to God. Yet his current reality feels painfully different. He’s spiritually thirsty and emotionally exhausted.
“As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God” (Psalm 42:1, ESV).
Many people know exactly what that feels like, whether they will admit it or not.
The World Behind the Text
One reason these psalms resonate is because they refuse to pretend that faith eliminates suffering.
The Bible never teaches that following God means living free from sorrow. In fact, Scripture repeatedly shows faithful men and women walking through seasons of profound grief, doubt, loneliness, and despair.
The psalmist openly admits his tears have become his food day and night (Psalm 42:3). He describes waves and breakers crashing over him (Psalm 42:7). He feels forgotten and oppressed (Psalm 42:9). He longs for God’s presence while wrestling with the reality of his pain.
An Old Testament scholar once used these psalms as the foundation for a book on spiritual depression, describing the strange beauty found within seasons of sorrow. That may sound like a contradiction, but Scripture repeatedly reveals that God often does some of His deepest work in our darkest valleys.
Pain is real.
Depression is real.
Grief is real.
Yet none of those realities have the final word. The psalmist doesn’t deny his suffering. Instead, he brings his suffering before God.
Biblical faith isn’t pretending everything is fine. Biblical faith is bringing everything that’s not fine directly to the Lord.
Walking the Passage
One of the most striking aspects of these psalms is that the writer talks to himself. Not in the sense of losing control, but in the sense of preaching truth to his own heart.
Three times he repeats the same refrain,
“Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God” (Psalm 42:5, ESV).
Notice what’s happening.
His emotions are speaking loudly. His circumstances are difficult. His sorrow is genuine.
Yet he refuses to let his feelings become the ultimate authority.
Instead, he challenges his despair with truth.
This is one of the great lessons of Psalms 42 and 43. We must allow our minds to speak truth to our emotions rather than allowing our emotions to dictate truth to our minds.
That doesn’t mean ignoring feelings. It means placing them under the authority of God’s promises.
The psalmist is essentially preaching the Gospel to his own pain.
He reminds himself that God is still worthy of praise.
He reminds himself that God is still present.
He reminds himself that God is still sovereign.
Most importantly, he reminds himself that his current suffering is not the end of the story.
For Christians today, that confidence is anchored in Jesus Christ.
We know that God entered human suffering Himself. Jesus was betrayed by a friend. He was falsely accused. He was beaten and mocked. He was crucified on a Roman cross.
He experienced unimaginable suffering.
Yet through His death and resurrection, He accomplished the salvation of His people and defeated sin and death forever.
As Peter writes,
“He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed” (1 Peter 2:24, ESV).
The resurrection reminds us that God specializes in bringing life out of places that appear hopeless.
A Fair Counter-Reading
Some readers may worry that emphasizing hope in suffering minimizes the reality of depression or emotional pain.
That concern deserves careful consideration.
Scripture never suggests that depression is solved by simply trying harder, praying more, or pretending to be happy. The psalmist himself spends two entire chapters expressing grief, confusion, and longing.
The biblical answer isn’t denial. The biblical answer is hope.
Hope doesn’t erase suffering overnight. Hope sustains us through suffering by reminding us that God remains faithful even when our emotions tell us otherwise.
For some, this journey may include counseling, medical care, trusted friendships, pastoral guidance, or all of the above. God’s common grace often works through many means.
The message of Psalms 42 and 43 is not that sorrow disappears instantly.
The message is that sorrow never gets the final word.
The Turn
Nathan reminded us that even our sorrow exists under God’s sovereign control.
That truth can be difficult to accept when we’re in the middle of pain, but Scripture consistently affirms it.
“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28, ESV).
Notice that Paul doesn’t say all things are good. Many things aren’t.
Divorce is painful. Loss is painful.
Loneliness is painful. Disappointment is painful.
Yet God remains at work through all of it.
I can personally testify to this reality.
The darkest season of my life came during and after my own divorce. I experienced loneliness unlike anything I had known before. At the time, I couldn’t fully see what God was doing.
Looking back now, I can see His hand all over that season.
God used my brokenness to point me toward the local church. He drew me into deeper community. He surrounded me with believers who know me, encourage me, challenge me, and walk beside me.
Most importantly, He deepened my dependence upon Him.
What once felt like abandonment became a pathway to greater intimacy with Christ.
Scripture is filled with similar stories.
Joseph was sold into slavery by his own brothers before being elevated to a position where he would save countless lives (Genesis 50:20).
Jonah ran from God’s calling, was swallowed by a great fish, and ultimately became part of God’s work of bringing Nineveh to repentance (Jonah 3:5).
Most importantly, Jesus himself endured the cross before the glory of the resurrection. What looked like defeat became the greatest victory in human history.
God has always been in the business of redeeming what appears hopeless.
Carry It Into the Week
Psalms 42 and 43 remind us that Christians don’t ignore pain. We bring it before God.
We acknowledge our sorrow.
We confess our struggles.
We lament fully and honestly.
But we don’t stay there.
We preach truth to our own hearts.
We remind ourselves of God’s character.
We remember His faithfulness.
We place our hope in Christ.
When the waves feel overwhelming, remember the refrain of these psalms,
“Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God” (Psalm 43:5, ESV).
Your emotions are real.
Your pain matters.
Your suffering is not invisible to God.
But neither is your future.
In Christ, despair is never the final chapter.
Song of the Week: GOOD DAY - Forrest Frank
Since this series started, I’m actually surprised it’s taken 32 weeks for Forrest Frank to earn the Song of the Week spot. Forrest has played a significant role in my journey of becoming more intentional about filling my mind with music that points me toward Christ. I first stumbled across his music while scrolling through TikTok, and before long, his songs found their way into my daily playlists. Out of all the songs that introduced me to his music, “Good Day” was the one that started it all.
At first glance, the song almost seems too simple. The message is straightforward regarding today being a good day. But the longer you sit with those words, the more you realize how difficult they can be to live out. It’s easy to declare a good day when everything is going according to plan. It’s much harder when life feels uncertain, prayers seem unanswered, relationships are strained, or circumstances are anything but ideal. Yet that’s exactly where the heart of this song shines.
The reason today can be a good day has nothing to do with our circumstances and everything to do with who God is. Forrest points listeners back to a truth that’s both humbling and encouraging. The God who created the universe knows us personally. The same God who spoke galaxies into existence knows our names, sees our struggles, hears our prayers, and walks with us through every moment. When that truth truly sinks in, it changes how we view our day. Our confidence no longer rests in what happens to us but in the One who is with us.
Unfortunately, many people struggle to believe that. We can intellectually agree that God loves us while still living as if we’re carrying our burdens alone. We worry about tomorrow, question His timing, and wonder if He’s forgotten about us. When doors close, opportunities disappear, or prayers seem delayed, it can be tempting to believe God is absent. But Scripture continually reminds us that God is always at work, even when we can’t see it.
Looking back on my own life, some of the moments that felt like disappointments ended up becoming some of God’s greatest blessings. What I thought was a setback was often His protection. What I viewed as a delay was usually preparation. His plans rarely unfold according to my preferred timeline, but they’ve always proven better than what I would have chosen for myself.
That’s why the message of “Good Day” resonates so deeply for me. It’s not a call to ignore hardships or pretend everything is perfect. It’s a declaration of trust. It’s choosing to believe that God is good even when life is difficult. It’s waking up and remembering that no matter what happens, the Lord is still on His throne, still working all things according to His purpose, and still holding His children in His hands.
So yes, today is a good day. Not because everything is easy. Not because every prayer has already been answered. Not because life is unfolding exactly how we planned. Today is a good day because God is faithful. He knows your name, He knows your story, and He is writing something greater than you can even imagine. Sometimes His plans look different than what we expected, but they are always marked by His wisdom, love, and goodness. And when we learn to trust that truth, we begin to realize that every day can be a good day when it’s lived in the presence of the One who holds the universe together.
Week in Reflection
This week was jam packed with God centered activities, both locally and throughout the surrounding area. First up was RiseFest. This annual Christian music festival celebrated its 20th year in 2026 and shattered attendance records with more than 30,000 people gathering over the course of the weekend. Deep dives into both days will be live soon, so stay tuned for those separate articles. But even before talking about specific artists, songs, or moments, there is something incredibly powerful about simply standing in a crowd of that size and hearing thousands upon thousands of voices singing praises to the Lord together. In a world that often feels divided and disconnected, events like RiseFest serve as a reminder that the body of Christ is far bigger than our local churches, communities, or even denominations. For two days, people from all walks of life came together with one purpose: to worship Jesus. The atmosphere is difficult to put into words unless you have experienced it yourself. If you’ve never attended RiseFest, I highly recommend adding it to your calendar now. RiseFest is already scheduled for 2027 on June 11th and 12th, and it is absolutely worth the trip.
The second major highlight of the week was the kickoff of Connection’s annual Leadership Series. Every summer, leaders and potential leaders from across the church gather for several weeks of intentional growth, encouragement, and discipleship. I always look forward to this season because it’s a tangible reminder that healthy churches do not happen by accident. They’re built by people who are willing to invest their time, energy, and gifts into serving others while continually growing in their own walk with Christ. What I appreciate most about Connection is how intentional the church is about developing people rather than simply filling positions. Leadership isn’t about titles or recognition; it’s about faithfully serving where God has placed you and helping others take their next steps in following Jesus. This summer, more than 100 people have been invited to participate, and that level of investment speaks volumes about the church’s commitment to discipleship and multiplication. I’m excited to see how God uses these next eight weeks to challenge us, encourage us, and equip us for the ministry He has called us to.
Weeks like this also remind me of the incredible blessing that Christian community truly is. Whether it’s worshiping alongside tens of thousands at a festival, learning alongside fellow believers in a leadership setting, or simply gathering with your local church on a Sunday morning, there’s something special about being connected to the body of Christ. We were never designed to walk this journey alone. God created us for community, accountability, encouragement, and mutual growth.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, if you aren’t connected to a local church, it may be one of the most encouraging and life giving decisions you ever make. No church is perfect because no group of people is perfect, but there’s tremendous value in finding a church that faithfully teaches God’s Word, points people to Jesus, and provides opportunities to grow alongside other believers. Some of the greatest blessings, friendships, lessons, and opportunities that God has brought into my life have come through being connected to a local church. It’s one of the primary ways God shapes us, encourages us, and reminds us that we are part of something far bigger than ourselves.
And always remember, God loves you, and so do I.
Connection Church in Sioux Falls is a gospel-centered community committed to helping people follow Jesus through authentic relationships, biblical teaching, and everyday mission. Rooted in historic Christian belief and aligned with gospel renewal movements, the church exists to see lives transformed by Jesus. Learn more: https://siouxfallsconnection.com/who-we-are
