DOMINION OVER DEPRESSION (2)

“Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? HOPE in GOD…” – Psalm 42:5a              

HOPE is a vital Instrument in exercising DOMINION over DARTS of DEPRESSION: “Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? HOPE in GOD, for I shall yet praise Him for the help of His countenance” (Psa.42:5). The heart that’s under attack by darts of depression is cast down, disquieted, and in turmoil. Depression is a downturn in emotion, usually with severe symptoms that could interfere with daily living. This spiritual and mental state usually comes with feelings of sadness, despair and discouragement. Notable Bible characters and renowned ministers such as Martin Luther, Charles Spurgeon, John Knox, and John Bunyan encountered seasons of depression.                                                                                

Depression is like sliding or stepping down into a pit. People often do not realize that they have descended into depression until it starts to affect them tangibly. The steps into depression include: Difficult life transitions; negative words; emotional insecurities; satanic accusations; and self-afflicting thoughts.

Psalm 42 depicts a stressful and difficult transition time for David. He was driven out of Jerusalem following his son, Absalom’s rebellion. We are most vulnerable to depression when things seem to be changing fast: Newly married, moved, or changed career or job. Sometimes it’s hard to adjust to the changes, resulting in overwhelming depression.                                                                  

Negative words – such as accusations and discouragement – could aggravate the feeling of depression. David went “mourning because of the oppression of the enemy” (v.9). Their reproach included taunting him unceasingly “Where is your God?” (v.10). If we are feeling like we are depressed, we may be listening to the wrong words. Some people can really be insulting!

Emotional insecurities drive depression, as expressed in some of the most famous psalms. Here in Psalm 42, he was apparently weak and worn out: “My tears have been my food day and night, while they continually say to me, “Where is your God?” (v.3). When our emotions are getting out of control, loneliness may set it, causing us to weep uncontrollably, for no visible reason!

Satan and his emissaries will use every opportunity to attack us, especially when we are down, and make it hard to get back up. He may just take a simple thing and amplify it to depress us further.

Above all, we can bring ourselves down by our own negative thoughts and self-talk. We can talk ourselves into more depression.

Right in the Pit of Depression, David suddenly realized God’s Way to get out: “Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him for the help of His countenance” (v.5b). Verse 11 reaffirms: “Hope in God; for I shall yet praise Him, the help of my countenance and my God.”

For each step down, there are steps to get out. On reaching rock bottom, the only way to look is UP. It’ not time to look and talk down, but to look up and find the way out. HOPE in GOD is the Way out! Psalm 43: 3 says, “Oh, send out Your light and Your truth; let them lead me; let them bring me to Your holy hill and to Your tabernacle”! God sends the Light of Wisdom and Truth to silence Satan’s accusations and lift us from the Pit of Depression. He reassures us that: no problem is insoluble and there is a solution in every situation: “The Lord will command His lovingkindness in the daytime, and in the night His song shall be with me” (v.8a).

What we need essentially is GOD’s HELP! Depression feeds on loneliness. We must starve depression by asking for help. The further depressed we are, the more help we need. God can lead us to seek counselling or learn from and receive encouraging and comforting words from others who’ve gone through tougher times (2Cor.1:3-4). Moreover, with prayer and the attitudes of gratitude and worship, He’ll help to refocus our hearts on Divine Securities, dissolve our emotional insecurities, and rekindle Joy and Strength!

Depression is a deep pit that is difficult to overcome, but God is bigger than any pit of depression we may ever encounter!