Have you ever gotten lost in the darkness of night? You may have started out walking in a wooded area while it was still day. Then night fell and you didn’t have a flashlight. You couldn’t tell where you were. Panic starts to set in. You don’t know how to get out. You start to feel hopeless. You are desperately looking for some glimmer of light to help you find your way out. This is how depression can be. I hope that I can give you not just a glimmer of light, but a beacon to find your way out.
I would like to discuss the subject of depression for a bit. First let’s look at some Bible characters that dealt with depression.
Noah, yes Noah. The one that we decorate nurseries with. According to Jewish history Noah faced depression. It makes sense too. He preached for 120 years and had 7 souls follow his teaching. Also, other than his family that was on the ark, he lost all of his family and friends at once. Then he’s stuck in a storm in an uncertain situation. He has no control over the outcome. He and his family are stuck in an ark for around 371 days. They are tending to thousands of animals. This was a hard undertaking from the very beginning and could have easily pushed many people into depression. Noah would survive this and see the sunshine again. He would receive the promise from God and be the first to see a rainbow that was attached to the promise. How did Noah survive? His faith in God.
Hebrews 11:7 WEB By faith Noah, being warned about things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared a ship for the saving of his house…
You see Noah had faith before he built the ark or he would have never started it. He believed and trusted in God. Noah still got depressed. But he held onto his faith and that kept him through. He may have battled in between, but ultimately he held onto God.
There were other Bible characters that faced depression throughout the Bible. Elijah, Job, Hannah, Jeremiah, and David.
Oh yes David. Understand that when he wrote about the valley of the shadow of death, that it didn’t necessarily mean death. It can mean: death-shadow, deep shadow, deep darkness, shadow of death or distress. Yes the valley of the shadow of death could be depression. One particular time David faced depression because he had lost everything. This is what it says he did.
1 Samuel 30:6 KJV And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God.
He encouraged himself in the Lord. We too can encourage ourselves in God. How you may ask? Prayer, worship, reading the Word, reflecting on Him and all that He has already done, trust Him.
Why am I telling you about these characters? To show you that depression is real and even some of our Bible heroes faced depression. So this means that you’re not some kind of failure because you’ve found yourself in depression. Sometimes it happens suddenly for no apparent reason and sneaks up on you. Sometimes we encounter something be it a tragedy or loss of some kind that triggers depression. But if you’re human you will most likely experience depression in some way during your life. What do you do? Well there’s a few things. Keep your faith in God. Don’t give up on God because things aren’t going as expected. Encourage yourself in the Lord. Read the Word, read Psalms. Put on the garment of praise. Let Him bind up your broken heart.
Yes, I do understand that you may need counsel and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. Talking with a friend, Pastor or a counselor is a great thing to do. Sometimes you need to talk through things. Sometimes you need the outside perspective and direction or just someone to vent to.
Do not eliminate God from the equation though. Because God can make the end results come out better. If you are depressed, if you are anxious, remember that the Word says in Isaiah 41:10 ISV Don’t be afraid, because I’m with you; don’t be anxious, because I am your God. I keep on strengthening you; I’m truly helping you. I’m surely upholding you with my victorious right hand.” Again it says in Psalm 73:26 NHEB My flesh and my heart fails, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
God can touch your heart even if it seems to fail you and He can heal it, no matter how broken. Jesus came to bind up the brokenhearted (Isaiah 61:1 KJV).
Psalm 40:1-2 KJV
1 I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.
2 He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.
Wait patiently for God. It may seem to be taking longer than you think it should, but trust Him. He is listening to your prayers. He can lift you out of your dark situation.
Micah 7:7-8 KJV
7 Therefore I will look unto the LORD; I will wait for the God of my salvation: my God will hear me.
8 Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy: when I fall, I shall arise; when I sit in darkness, the LORD shall be a light unto me.
So continue looking to God and waiting for Him. We often equate falling in verse 8 to some grievance or sin, but this really could refer to depression. Notice directly afterwards it says when I sit in darkness. So remember when you fall that you will get back up. Remember if you are in a dark place God will be a light about you.
You may think, “but I don’t feel like I’m in His presence, I feel alone.” Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. (Psalm 139:7-8 KJV). You can’t be in a place where He is not. You can’t escape His presence. He is omnipresent after all.
Still you may think, “I still can’t feel Him.” When you can’t feel God you must rely on your knowing God. If when you wake up in the morning and it’s storming. The clouds are dark and the rain is falling. It does not mean that the sun didn’t rise, it just means that you can’t see it or feel it. Know that the sun always rises no matter what you see or feel. Know that God is always there no matter what you see or feel. This is faith. Not leaning on your own understanding or feelings, but trusting God. Trusting that He will never leave you or forsake you. Trusting that His Word is true. Trusting that if Jesus came to this world and suffered the beating and the crucifixion. That He will not leave you when you need Him. Even though you may not feel Him, you are not alone.
Speaking of being alone, do not isolate yourself. God said way back in Genesis 2:18 It is not good that the man should be alone. Remember that your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour (1 Peter 5:8 KJV). A lion might isolate its prey from the rest of the flock in order to devour it. If he can make you isolate yourself then he can attack you and take you out easier. What do the very next verses say?
1 Peter 5:9 BBE
9 Do not give way to him but be strong in your faith, in the knowledge that your brothers who are in the world undergo the same troubles.
Our brothers are going through the same troubles. You are not alone, you are not the only one suffering.
One final thing.
Colossians 3:15-16 KJV
15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.
16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
Sometimes you have to LET the peace of God rule in our hearts. You can find yourself like Jacob in Genesis 37:35 he refused to be comforted. You can deny yourself peace. You can hold onto the depression and anxiety so tightly that you don’t let peace rule. Be careful to not find your identity in your pain. When you say, “my anxiety” or “my depression.” Rather say this anxiety or depression. Remember death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof. (Proverbs 18:21 KJV). For a better understanding let’s look at another translation of this. Proverbs 18:21 EasyEnglish Words are able to save life and to cause death. So you must accept the result of what you say. So it matters what you say, so speak positively.
I hope that this has given you some encouragement and has strengthened your faith in the fact that you are not alone and God has not abandoned you. Yes, He still loves you, yes He is still listening to you, yes He still cares.
Philippians 4:6-7 NET
6 Do not be anxious about anything. Instead, in every situation, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, tell your requests to God.
7 And the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.