Fighting the Depressing Times of Life
Depression is real! Many folks suffer from it, some because of medical issues, and others because they either don’t know how to be happy or just don’t want to be happy. In other words, depression can be an attitude rather than a medical problem. I’m no doctor so will not offer a medical diagnosis or medical cure. But I am a gospel preacher, and in many years of talking with people who are depressed for one reason or another, my observation is that many are depressed because they just aren’t willing to lean on God for the answers to their problems! (Proverbs 3:5)
King David experienced depression and wrote about it several times. For an example, read the following from Psalm 40: 11 -15: “Withhold not thou thy tender mercies from me, O LORD: let thy lovingkindness and thy truth continually preserve me. For innumerable evils have compassed me about: mine iniquities have taken hold upon me so that I am not able to look up; they are more than the hairs of mine head: therefore my heart faileth me. Be pleased, O LORD, to deliver me: O LORD, make haste to help me. Let them be ashamed and confounded together that seek after my soul to destroy it; let them be driven backward and put to shame that wish me evil. Let them be desolate for a reward of their shame that say unto me, Aha, aha.” Though David admitted to his sins, and though he is recognized as “a man after God’s own heart,” David was no different than most of us who experience depression. The conduct of others bothered him when that conduct opposed God and God’s law. Likewise, it is apparent David “got on his own nerves” from time to time! He prayed to God for relief and learned that God hears prayer, but still does things in His time (Ecclesiastes 3:11).
How did David cope with depression? Examine the following: “Give ear to my words, O LORD, consider my meditation. Hearken unto the voice of my cry, my King, and my God: for unto thee will I pray. My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up. For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness: neither shall evil dwell with thee. The foolish shall not stand in thy sight: thou hatest all workers of iniquity. Thou shalt destroy them that speak leasing: the LORD will abhor the bloody and deceitful man. But as for me, I will come into thy house in the multitude of thy mercy: and in thy fear will I worship toward thy holy temple.” (Psalms 5: 1- 7) He prayed and he “looked up.” That is, he placed his complete trust in what God would have him say and do; nothing more and nothing less! That agrees completely with the apostle Paul’s inspired words of Colossians 3:17: “And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by Him.”
The psalmist also wrote, “I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth. He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber. Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. The LORD is thy keeper: the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand. The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night. The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul. The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.” (Psalms 121) Frankly, too many seek solutions to their depression, their despondency, and their daily problems, in areas foreign to God’s word! They are looking in the wrong places!!! I’m not speaking of depression caused by medical conditions. I’m speaking of those depressions that come from lack of faith, lack of truth, and lack of obedience to God and His word!
Solomon said, “I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all.” (Ecclesiastes 3:11) Read that statement of wisdom carefully. It doesn’t matter how fast you can run, how strong you are in the flesh, how wise among men you might be, how wealthy you might be, or how skillful you are, things of life are going to happen! This includes bouts with depression, i.e., “self-inflicted pity.” If you would do a word search on the word “pity,” you would find several passages in which by God’s commandment, the situation was not to receive pity! In these cases, self-inflicted pity is condemned. Thus, “feeling sorry for yourself” was condemned during the time of the Old Testament. Is it condemned today? Read Matthew 6: 16 – 18. If your depression is merely to seek the attention of others, it is condemned!
For many, the excuse, “I just can’t help it,” is a weak admission of a lack of faith! God made a promise to His children. The Hebrew writer states, “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.: (Hebrews 13: 5 – 6) Do we believe that statement? If not, why not? Can’t we understand that our faith must increase and not decrease? Even the apostles were told to increase their faith. But what standard of authority do we think we have enough? And doesn’t “self-inflicted depression” prove we need more faith? If it doesn’t prove that I have no idea what it does prove! Add another passage: Philippians 4:13. By what authority do you blame “life” for decreasing your faithfulness and allegiance to God and His word? Dear reader, let’s increase our faith!