~Psalm 142:4 I looked on my right hand, and beheld, but there was no man that would know me: refuge failed me; no man cared for my soul.

How desperate a verse this is, isn’t it? The Psalmist looked around him and discovered that no one wanted to be a friend to him. There was no place for him to hide or even seek help. No one cared whether he lived or died.

But notice the next verse – the Psalmist did not wallow in self pity. Look at how he dealt with his feelings of desperation:

~Psalm 142:5 I cried unto thee, O LORD: I said, Thou art my refuge and my portion in the land of the living.

What a prescription for encouraging one’s spirit! A personal relationship with God is the ultimate solution for everyone. After salvation, the believer’s life is spent developing that relationship with the Lord through the changing power of the Holy Spirit – He teaches us, we submit to Him – as a result, we become more like our Father!