“But You, O Lord ...” - Psalms 102-104

Psalms 102:12 (ESV Strong's)

But you, O Lord, are enthroned forever;

you are remembered throughout all generations.

But You, O Lord ... 

Before we can understand the beauty and power of the above verse we have to have the context of who said it and what he said prior to it.   In the verses the proceed this line of praise, we have a person who is in great distress and depression, crying out to God.  Note what he writes prior to the above truth:

Psalms 102:3-11 (ESV Strong's)

For my days pass away like smoke,

and my bones burn like a furnace.

My heart is struck down like grass and has withered;

I forget to eat my bread.

Because of my loud groaning

my bones cling to my flesh.

I am like a desert owl of the wilderness,

like an owl of the waste places;

I lie awake;

I am like a lonely sparrow on the housetop.

All the day my enemies taunt me;

those who deride me use my name for a curse.

For I eat ashes like bread

and mingle tears with my drink,

because of your indignation and anger;

for you have taken me up and thrown me down.

My days are like an evening shadow;

I wither away like grass.

He is in a dark whole.  And, like Job of old, he needs to have his mind changed and to refocus his gaze.   That is what makes verse twelve so powerful.   Again, like Job, in the midst of his pain, suffering and dismay, he refocuses his mind on who God is rather than on what his circumstances are.  The “but you” phrase changes his focus from him to God.   That is the problem we all have in the midst of circumstances and trials and troubles:  We are focused on the circumstances, the trials and the the troubles.  When we change our focus and concentrate on the beauty, power, sovereignty and purpose of God, we can have the same change of mindset that the writer of this Psalms had.   Focusing on God in the midst of depression is a great first step into healing a mindset.