Dealing with Depression (part 1)

 

This time of the year, in this climate, people often struggle with depression or find it hard as Christians to know the victory. We must keep in mind that we are made up of three parts: Body (physical(, Soul (emotions), Spirit (Spiritual). Let anyone get out of order and the whole is affected. So, we come to the Psalms - Where real people wrote about real pain and faced real problems and found real help from the Lord. Psalms 42-43.

 

" To the chief Musician, Maschil, for the sons of Korah. As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God? My tears have been my meat day and night, while they continually say unto me, Where is thy God? When I remember these things, I pour out my soul in me: for I had gone with the multitude, I went with them to the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise, with a multitude that kept holyday.Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance. O my God, my soul is cast down within me: therefore will I remember thee from the land of Jordan, and of the Hermonites, from the hill Mizar. Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy waterspouts: all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me. Yet the LORD will command his lovingkindness in the daytime, and in the night his song shall be with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life. I will say unto God my rock, Why hast thou forgotten me? why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy? As with a sword in my bones, mine enemies reproach me; while they say daily unto me, Where is thy God? Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God. Judge me, O God, and plead my cause against an ungodly nation: O deliver me from the deceitful and unjust man. For thou art the God of my strength: why dost thou cast me off? why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy? O send out thy light and thy truth: let them lead me; let them bring me unto thy holy hill, and to thy tabernacles. Then will I go unto the altar of God, unto God my exceeding joy: yea, upon the harp will I praise thee, O God my God. Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God."

 

These 2 Pslams go together. The voice is one of depression. David wrote this when he fled from Absalom. These statments can sum up the two Pslams.

 

1. Saved longing

2. God hidden

3. Foe raging

4. Heart melting

5. Darkness building

6. Depression experienced

7. Christian conquering

 

We will look at these Psalms to see what to do when we face difficult or dark days.

 

"The conflicts of the soul afford occasion for the exercise of graces." Henry March

 

Engage the memory: Psalms 42:4-6 " When I remember these things, I pour out my soul in me: for I had gone with the multitude, I went with them to the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise, with a multitude that kept holyday. Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance.O my God, my soul is cast down within me: therefore will I remember thee from the land of Jordan, and of the Hermonites, from the hill Mizar."

- Remember better days

- Remembered God through our circumstances. Our God will never change!

- What He has done He is able to do again!

 

Ernestly prayed: Psalms 42:6, 9 43:1-3 "O my God, my soul is cast down within me: therefore will I remember thee from the land of Jordan, and of the Hermonites, from the hill Mizar. I will say unto God my rock, Why hast thou forgotten me? why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?"  "Judge me, O God, and plead my cause against an ungodly nation: O deliver me from the deceitful and unjust man. For thou art the God of my strength: why dost thou cast me off? why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy? O send out thy light and thy truth: let them lead me; let them bring me unto thy holy hill, and to thy tabernacles."

- David took the matter to God.

- We have not because we ask not!

- Make every conflict (big or small) the content of your prayers.

 

Exercise faith: Psalms 42:5, 11 43:5 "Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance. Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God." "Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God."

- Faith reasons with fear.

- A choice is made to trust God

 

"My God will clear the furrows from my brow, and the tearmarks from my cheek - Therefor will I lift up my head and smile in the face of the storm." C.H. Spurgeon

 

Excited Hope: Psalms 42:8 43:3-4 "Yet the LORD will command his lovingkindness in the daytime, and in the night his song shall be with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life." "O send out thy light and thy truth: let them lead me; let them bring me unto thy holy hill, and to thy tabernacles. Then will I go unto the altar of God, unto God my exceeding joy: yea, upon the harp will I praise thee, O God my God."

- Looking ahead to a better and brighter day.

- Hope was an effectual cure for his own soul.

- Expecting good from the Lord's hand in the future!

 

Encouraged himself: Psalms 42:5,11 43:5 "Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance. Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God." "Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God."

- Gave himself a good stiff talking to!

- You - Hope in God. "the more terrible the storm, the more necessary the anchor"

 

The Psalms closes on a note of victory! The depression defeated and darkness gives way to light! We also can overcome with the Lord's help and by following the example of one who also suffered.

 

- Engage memory

- Ernestly pray

- Exercise Faith

- Excites hope

- Encourage yourself in the Lord

 

Continue to apply God's medecine until the wound is healed - the darkness and difficulty gives way to better days!