The Psalmist shows us what it looks like to have, and struggle through, a downcast spirit. The Psalmist 1) thirsts, 2) listens to himself, and 3) talks to himself. He recognizes that God is the only thing that satisfies his spiritual thirst, but nevertheless feels distant from him. He lets his emotions speak, but doesn’t let them have the last word – instead, he speaks God’s truth back into how he feels and resolves to continue to hope in and praise God.