Even Christians can feel overwhelmed and downcast at times. I felt that way as I sulked in the far corner of the swimming pool. There was only one other person in the pool and he and the lifeguard were having quite a chat.

“I could drown right here and you wouldn’t even notice,” I thought. Yes I can swim, that wasn’t the point. I was just miffed that the lifeguard was so engrossed in conversation that he wasn’t paying attention to his job. But that was just my bad attitude rearing its ugly head; I knew in my heart that the lifeguard was doing his job even if it didn’t seem so.

This scripture came to mind:

Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God,
for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God. ~Psalm 42:11

It occurred to me that my frustrations ran deeper than a seemingly negligent lifeguard. The real issue was that I felt God himself was not paying attention to my needs. But that was just my carnal mind speaking. I KNOW with certainty that the Lord God is watching out for His children at all times regardless of what my tattered emotions say.

Jesus is not just a lifeguard standing by in case we start to sink, He is always there guarding every part of our lives whether we feel His presence or not. And He is never negligent! The Bible says to cast all our cares upon Him for He cares for us. I asked myself again: Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.

I was given a fresh reminder that day; though our Heavenly Father guards our lives, we have a responsibility to guard our thoughts. Rather than letting our downcast emotions rule our thoughts, we must bring them into subjection. How? By praising God!