Depression - no easy answers

Yesterday, we spoke of the cycles of up and down as we try to pull out of the nosedive of depression. Or help someone else pull out. We can see this roller coaster ride in the verses of Psalms 42 and 43. 

The psalmist tried repeatedly to rouse himself to seek God as his hope and help. He tried valiantly, no matter how despairing his circumstances were. What do we mean "rouse"? The dictionary says it means "to arouse from or as if from a state of sleep, unconsciousness, inactivity, or depression." Another says it means to "wake up."

You see, we may experience the same things the psalmist did: it may take us a few up and down cycles before we are able to pull out of the nosedive of depression. But that is not the most important part. The part we need to focus on is that we deal with depression aggressively - we don't just drift along with the circumstances. Even if we feel depressed; even if we are clinically depressed, we need to try to live in obedience to God's Word.

We need to be so very careful! We live in a feelings-oriented culture. Consider these phrases we hear so often:

           "Feelings are not right or wrong, they just are."

Or this one:

            "You need to get in touch with your feelings."

Let's be clear - we do need to understand and accept the fact that we have feelings and emotions. If we were to try to deny them, or seek to conquer them by burying them and not paying attention, we would be making ourselves ill!  BUT we need to develop a biblical view of our emotions and we need to compare the world's words with the scriptures.  I have seen believers who are defeated by depression and negative emotions because they haven't looked for a biblical strategy for dealing with them.

The Bible tells us that we must discipline ourselves for the purpose of godliness:

Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. (I Timothy 4:7)

Now, discipline (by definition) means going against my feelings. Going against my emotions for a purpose. For example, I might not feel like rolling out of bed and getting dressed and exercising, but if I'm disciplined, I will go ahead and do it anyway. (Grin)  Or I may see something that I think is SO cool and I want to spend my money impulsively, but if I'm disciplined, I go against my feelings because I have committed to living by a budget. 

Some of the most mature believers have struggled with depression. Remember Elijah?

Now Ahab told Jezebel everything Elijah had done and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah to say, “May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I do not make your life like that of one of them.” Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, while he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness. He came to a broom bush, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.” (I Kings 19:1-4)

How about John the Baptist; remember him? He was sitting in prison, struggling against depression:

 When John, who was in prison, heard about the deeds of the Messiah, he sent his disciples to ask him, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?” (Matthew 11:2-3)

Even our old friend, Peter. Imagine his depression after this:

Then he began to call down curses, and he swore to them, “I don’t know the man!”

Immediately a rooster crowed. Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken: “Before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly. (Matthew 26:74b-75)

There are other examples, too, in our Bibles, but even while the people of God may fall prey to depression, it's clear that our lives should be marked by a different emotion. And this one is tough. The scriptures say we should be marked by joy in the Lord -- and that's even in some of the most difficult circumstances.

Christ Jesus was facing betrayal and death: 

I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. (John 15:11)

The apostles (Peter and others) were jailed and flogged:

The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name. (Acts 5:41)

Paul and Silas were beaten and jailed:

About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. (Acts 16:25)

All of these folks had plenty of reasons to be "bummed out." Some had excellent reason to be severely depressed. But a consistently depressed Christian is a terrible advertisement for the Lord and the power of His salvation and love. There is no easy answer. But we must confront our depression and bring it under the control of the Holy Spirit. It's the role of the Spirit to help us:

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, (Galatians 5:22)

It's not us. It's God's Spirit. He will encourage us and help us plant our feet on the next step, and then the next one. When we ask for His help in thinking rightly, and cleansing our mind, our depression will begin to be replaced by genuine joy in the Lord. It may take time. It may take medication if our body is missing a vital chemical, or needs rest or healing. But it will come. We must hold His hand and take the very first step: to recognize that warning light that beeps at us -- depression -- recognize it and begin to rouse ourselves to find the reasons why.