Psalm 43:3 Send me your light and your faithful care,
    let them lead me;
let them bring me to your holy mountain,
    to the place where you dwell.

This Psalm is demonstrably the last part of Psalm 42, but for reasons unknown got separated at some point. Be that as it may, the chorus that appears in 42:5 and 11 and again in 43:5 is certainly one to remember anytime we are tempted to depression. People sometimes laugh at the practice, common in the Psalms, of addressing yourself, or your soul, but it is actually extremely practical, since we have conflicting “voices” within us. That said, that is still a “self-help” practice, and in the final analysis we are unable to save ourselves. This verse, however, puts the focus where it rightly belongs, on God. As everyone has experienced, light is important for guidance, especially when the surroundings are dark. That’s what lighthouses are all about! An old hymn says, “Lead, kindly light, amid the encircling gloom.” Sometimes we think we see the way ahead pretty clearly, but we never see it as well as God does, so this prayer is always appropriate. Many translations say “truth,” where the NIV says “faithful care.” We also have difficulty distinguishing what really is true, so asking God for His truth is a good idea too. It’s interesting that the Japanese uses a term for “truth” that implies faithfulness, trustworthiness, as in the hymn, “I would be true, for there are those who trust me.” God’s truth goes beyond facts to His character, and so is an absolutely reliable guide. We need to let our awareness of Who and What He is confirm our destination within us, just as this verse says, so that we won’t be deceived by the “dead ends” (literally) the world and the devil offer us.

I have occasionally had difficulties with direction, but I have found God to be an absolute reliable guide. “God Positioning System” is the best! I encounter people all the time who are largely aimless, and it is my privilege to introduce them to the One who is both the supreme Guide and the ultimate destination. I have prayed this verse, even if not in exactly these words, many times, and I seek to teach others to pray them as well. Preaching down at people never works, so I need to come alongside them and encourage them to receive and accept the guidance God provides, so that they may walk out of the devil’s traps and into the abundant life that Jesus came to give us. (John 10:10)

Father, thank You for this reminder. I’ll be having a call today from a young Christian, and I feel he is probably wanting guidance. Keep me from speaking out of my own head, but rather point him to listen to You. Help him indeed get in step with Your Spirit, not only in where he walks but how he walks, so that he may grow as Your child and draw many more to You as well, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!