I couldn’t put my finger on it. I felt sad, but didn’t really know why.
That particular day hadn’t come with a crisis or catastrophe. No illness, intense struggle, or unresolved conflict. Even so, my heart felt tender, worn. Sometimes the cumulative impact of simply living takes a toll — on the heart, mind, body, and soul. You can’t mark it on your calendar or prepare ahead of time. Instead, it sneaks up and blindsides you with inexplicable waves of emotion.
So I opened my Bible and attempted to read, fully assured that the Lord is “my hiding place” (Psalm 32:7). I started in the Gospel of Mark, reading one chapter and then another, waiting for it to assuage my sadness like taking a couple of Tylenol dulls a headache.
I wanted it to numb the ache and make me feel better. Sometimes God’s Word does exactly that. But that day, despite the riches on each page, I remained uninspired.
That’s when I made a decision to do something I didn’t feel like doing. I got up from my office chair, put on my tennis shoes, grabbed a sweatshirt, and headed outside. Although it was cold and I had little energy, I started walking, carving circles around the perimeter of my house. And as I walked, I sang the first song that came to mind — The Goodness of God. It didn’t sound pretty, and I forgot some of the words. A couple of times, my dog looked at me as if I’d lost my ever-loving mind. Entirely possible. But I kept walking. And singing.
I didn’t feel it, but I sang what I knew to be true. And although the heaviness didn’t disappear entirely, it lifted a little. And it was enough.
In Psalm 13, David feels a similar melancholy. He’s discouraged by the taunts of enemies, weary of life, and trying to survive. To make matters worse, God seemed distant: “How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and day after day have sorrow in my heart?” (v. 2)
His lament sounds like mine. How long, Lord? I need two spiritual Tylenol STAT.
“Look on me and answer, LORD my God. Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death,” he warns (v. 3)
No matter how desperate and determined his prayers, his melancholy remained. That’s when he made a decision to do something he didn’t feel like doing. He told himself the truth, the truth he knew to be true, even if his feelings tempted him to doubt.
“But I trust in your unfailing love;
my heart rejoices in your salvation.
I will sing the Lord’s praise,
for he has been good to me.”
Psalm 13:5-6 (NIV)
You see, some moments, days, and seasons will be marked by sadness. It’s just the way it works. At times, you’ll know the reason why; other times, you won’t. The cumulative impact of the human experience often hits when we least expect it. And, yes, sometimes God will seem distant. Your prayers will sound hollow, the verses you read uninspired.
When this happens — note, I said when, not if — our best response isn’t to follow the path of our feelings, but to lace up our shoes and walk out the TRUTH:
- TRUTH #1: We are wonderfully made, including our feelings. But feelings don’t always tell us the truth. Pay attention to feelings, but don’t be a slave to them.
- TRUTH #2: Just because God feels distant, doesn’t mean He is. Go back to His character and His promises. If God says He will never leave you (He says it!), believe Him.
- TRUTH #3: Joy isn’t a response to feelings, but a generator of them. Sometimes we need to do the thing before we feel the thing. Regardless, He is worth the worship.
- TRUTH #4: Reminding yourself of God’s goodness is a spiritual practice just as valuable as prayer and Scripture. Every day, rain or shine, God is GOOD.
I don’t know your story or what your life looks like right now. But there is a good chance that, before the year comes to a close, you’ll have a day or two (or twelve) that come with more melancholy than joy. I get it, sister. Some days are just plain hard. But God’s goodness remains the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. He is the One thing we can count on.
And when my soul forgets its song, I’ll sing anyway. Until Truth trumps the grief with a new and better melody.
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I really get it! My song is “this is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it.” I appreciate everyone sharing their lives, feelings, etc. It helps knowing I am not the only one and, more importantly, I find answers in these messages. So, a big thank you to all the writers.
That’s a good, good song. Each day is a gift! Thanks for sharing, Madeline. Not alone!
I needed these words today. There is so many nuggets of truth and love that spoke to my heart. Thank you for your honesty and that sometimes we just don’t feel it. And yet…God remains steadfast and loving
I’m so glad, Lisa. The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases!
I needed your words to comfort me, to help me understand my sadness despite reading the Bible. God is everywhere, not just in the pages. He made this universe for us to explore and seek His grace from places we do not normally expect. Thank you Michelle for helping me mark my grief and sadness with His touch!
Well said, Angela! Thank you for sharing your insight with us. I’m so glad today’s article encouraged you!
Good morning I just finished this devotion and it brought tears to my eyes. I just went through a situation this past weekend where my son and I who were traveling in Barcelona got mugged and had my purse taken. It was very traumatic for both of us, but all I kept thinking wasGod was with us the entire time. He was protecting us. We were OK. They were just possessions. I’ve been feeling very melancholy and sad because I had to leave him to come back to the states while he studying there.
Thank you , Michele for your beautiful uplifting words! I will keep Psalm 13:5-6 close to my heart. I will be sharing your devotional with a couple of friends who will also be encouraged.
Blessings to you.
Thank you, Nancy. I love your heart and desire to share this with your friends! We also experience God’s loving kindness and goodness in our relationships with one another. That’s a great way to remind your heart of God’s nearness.
So good Michelle! Thank you for sharing these words.
So much love for you, sister!
Dear Michele………………..I cried through reading your devotional as I have really been sad and melancholy off and on for 5 years, but it is very severe for me since 10/10/25 (my grandson’s 15th birthday ) and I know will last through all of the holiday seasons that are headed our way. I have been alone now for 5 years as my now ex-husband, my 55 year old son and his wife, as they are the parents of my grandson. I am feeling at my wits end and I pray constantly for help and I have gotten some from Jesus, but I think I need to tell him about how the holidays affect me. My son keeps sending me emails that are not true and very nasty which does not help me. About 4 years ago he called and told me he no longer considers me his mother as I am a liar. That is so wrong as I don’t lie about something like his father having dementia. It is serious now as I went to see him in the facility he lives in and after dating him for 2 years and being married to him for 56 years, he did not even recognize me. I went there as nobody would tell me how he was. I was shocked to see how much his dementia has progressed even though he and my son say there is nothing wrong with him. The type of dementia that he has is such that he can fool people for a short time and then he forgets everything. The Doctors told me that the only people that would recognize his condition are people that live him 24/7 and that was me for 3+ years. My son and his wife don’t even see him that often. My ex also is a heavy drinker which the doctors told him he needed to stop immediately. He is still drinking a lot. There is so much more, but I am not feeling well today. The food they serve us in the facility I live in is toxic, terrible and makes me sick every meal I go to. This does not help the melancholy, sadness and emotions. I often dream and think about all the fun we had at holiday gatherings. I loved all my relatives and everyone loved me too, but as we all got older, I lost them one by one. My father was only 58 and I was only 23. He was my best friend and I really, really miss him even though he is in a better place with the rest of my beloved relatives. I was fortunate to have my mother until she was 95, but she was a very caring and great Mom. Michele, I will try one of your suggestions that you wrote. I can’t go outside, but I can grab my cane and walk the 3 floors here which a number of people do here. Thank you so much for sharing your experience and I am not giving up. I know that Jesus will continue to help me struggle through this dark time for me. Michele, I wish you and your family a Blessed Thanksgiving and I send my love, my respect and my devotion to all of you women of (in)courage as I read your stories first thing in the morning and each one helps me so very much. I feel like I know you and that certainly helps with my loneliness…Betsy Basile
Loved this!
Thank you Michele
Blessings
Dear Michele,
I love this! I sometimes feel melancholy for no apparent reason. I pray about it, but I also do something to switch things up. A walk, some stolen moments with a “fluffy” book, A drive in the country or to the beach.
Thank you for your advice and example!
Howwonderful and timely is your devotional to me. I thank you for sharing. I hadn’t read Psalm 13 but I will add it to Psalm 23 and 139. That’s were I’ve been reading. I know there’s more scriptures. I’ve gotten up and doing for others which always helped, sharing how God’s goodness has been evident in my life. You are a blessing!
Love this so much! It is so very true. My first Bible study is getting ready to be published “The Song of Our Heart.” Holding on to the song that gets us through those rough days. Thanks you for sharing.
Michele, I needed this today. Thank you for sharing! I especially thank you for this reminder: “Sometimes we need to do the thing before we feel the thing. ” Amen, Sister!