WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN DEPRESSION TRIES TO DESTROY YOUR JOY?

BIBLE PASSAGE:
For in the day of trouble He will keep me safe in his dwelling;
He will hide me in the shelter of His tabernacle and set me high
upon a rock. Then my head will be exalted above the enemies
who surround me; at His tabernacle will I sacrifice with shouts
of joy; I will sing and make music to the Lord.
(Psalm 27:5-6)

MEDITATION:
When is the last time you exclaimed shouts of joy? Was it at a
sporting event or some activity of a child that was outstanding?
Have you ever noticed that your moments of elation will sometimes
be followed by periods of depression? These depressing times can
become more intense during the night. How do you deal with those
times when you are down?

Christians are not altogether immune from depression.
David, the psalmist, experienced times of depression.
    My tears have been my food day and night, while
    people say to me all day long, “Where is your God?”
    (Psalm 42:3)

    Why, my soul, are you downcast?
    Why so disturbed within me? (Psalm 42:5a)

    My bones suffer mortal agony as my foes taunt me,
    saying to me all day long, “Where is your God?”
    (Psalm 42:10)

David reasoned with himself and discovered ways to fight off his
depression. One of the ways David distracted himself from his
despondency, was to reaffirm his faith in God, and praise Him
for being his Savior.
    Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him,
    my Savior and my God. (Psalm 42:5b)

Secondly, David told God exactly how he felt and then remembered
how the God of mercies had comforted him in the past.
    My soul is downcast within me; therefore I will
    remember you from the land of the Jordan, the
    heights of Hermon—from Mount Mizar. (Psalm 42:6)

Here is an example
of what David remembered about God comforting him.
    I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and
    heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of
    the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave
    me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth,
    a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the
    Lord and put their trust in him. (Psalm 40:1-3)

As his feelings of depression tried to take control of his emotions again,
he reminded himself of the first step in defending against despondency.
    Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me?
    Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and
    my God. (Psalm 42:11)

If we fail to make conscious efforts to redirect our thoughts from
depression to the goodness of God, then we cannot expect to be
“lifted out of the slimy pit”. We should learn from the wisdom of
David and use his tactics for fighting off periods of depression
that invade our lives.

ACTION:
Do you struggle with periods of depression? If so, how are you
coping with them? Depression can be a downward spiral into
deeper depression if you do not take action immediately. You
have a choice of focusing on the gloom and despair consuming
you, or staying busy counting your blessings and praising God.

If you are not a follower of Christ, then David’s methods may
not make sense to you. But if you are a Christian, then you
would be wise to heed David’s advice, so you too can go to God’s
house with shouts of joy and join others in singing to the Lord.
After all, the scriptures were not written just so we would have
some reading material, they were written to point us to the Savior
and to guide us in living as believers.

Pray,
“Heavenly Father, thank You for the book of Psalms which
helps me to see that even in the depths of depression, David
talked to You, he remembered how You were with him in
previous times, he expressed his faith in You, and he praised
You for the blessings You gave to him. Teach me Father, to
follow David’s actions when I am down or depressed. Help
me to learn to praise You in whatever circumstances I am
in – the good times as well as the bad ones.”

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