One Cure for Depression

The Bible’s wisdom and instruction is sufficient for every circumstance that troubles man.  It is the instruction manual for righteous living given to us by our Creator.  The Bible along with the Holy Spirit are all that we need to live a life pleasing and glorifying to God.

God created us in His image, and God’s emotions are revealed in the Scriptures (Genesis 6:6, Mark 1:41&3:5, Ephesians 4:30); therefore, God created us as emotional beings.  But because of the fall, sin has corrupted our whole being including our emotions.  Therefore, like a computer with a defective motherboard, we are unable to consistently understand and control the emotions that are triggered by people and events in our lives (Genesis 4:5b, Jeremiah 17:9, Ephesians 4:22).  However God is never surprised or overcome by His emotions.  He never allows His emotions to impact His perfect plan.  But we do.

The Bible is replete with stories and verses relating to overwhelming sadness and despair (what we today would call depression).  This is not a new phenomenon.  Many before us have suffered in this emotional state.  And the Bible gives us the instructions as to how to find our way out.

Take Psalm 77 for example.  In verses 1-9 we quickly understand the pain and heaviness that Asaph is experiencing.

• “I cry aloud to God”
• “My soul refuses to be comforted”
• “When I remember God, I moan; when I meditate my spirit faints”
• “I am so troubled that I cannot speak”
• “Will the Lord spurn forever?”
• “Has God forgotten to be gracious?”
• “Has he in anger shut up his compassion?”

The psalmist does not explain the cause of his despair, but he was definitely locked into gloom. When he thought about God, it only caused him to complain bitterly.

When we look at the end of chapter 15 into the beginning of chapter 16 of Exodus we see some of the same emotional turmoil as is being expressed in the beginnings of Psalm 77.  The Israelites are tired, confused, and drained.  Things seem to be getting worse, not better.  Obtaining the most basic needs have become a chore.

In both these instances we see a focus on self which produces doubt; a doubting of God’s word, a doubting of God’s character, a doubting of God’s promises.  These doubts are from Satan and they are a dangerous ploy to lead us into temptation (see Genesis 3:1-5).  The Israelites continue moving into this doubt for 40 years causing them to miss out on the promises and blessings of God.

Moving back to Psalm 77 verse 10 we see that this is the pivotal verse which keeps Asaph from floundering in his doubt and depression.

“Then I said, ‘I will appeal to this, to the years of the right hand of the Most High.’”

Asaph commits himself to focusing on God’s goodness and past acts of deliverance, and because of this his lament then changes into a hymn of praise. He speaks aloud and begins to remember the times when God used His right hand (power) to strengthen and protect him.  This small act of the will is the catapult which delivers Asaph out of his depression.  God gave both Asaph and the Israelites the free will to choose Him or to choose themselves.  They each chose differently and reaped what they sowed.

The lesson is this:

• Blessing only comes from the doing – knowing what to do is not enough (Luke 11:27-28, John 13:17, James 1:22-25, Revelation 1:3)
• Good days flow from obedience not desire (Genesis 4:3-7, Psalm 34, 1 Peter 3:8-12)

Today if you are hurting and overwhelmed with emotional pain God understands and wants to help you, not condemn you.  You can access the gift of faith that God has given you by putting off your feelings and putting on God-awareness – remembering who He is, what He has done, and what He promises to do.  This is done through the reading of His Bible, and recollection of why and how God has moved in and throughout your life in the past.

Suggested questions to contemplate:

• What “Red Sea” moments has God made to happen in your life previously?
• How has God delivered you from other instances that seemed scary, overwhelming, or dark?
• What gifts and blessings has God bestowed upon you in the forms of resources and people?
• What difference does the Gospel make in your current situation?

Suggested verses to read:

1 Chronicles 16:12, Psalm 103, Psalm 111:2-5, Romans 8:28-39, Ephesians 3:14-21, 2 Peter 1:3-8

Permission to distribute: Please feel free to download, print, or electronically share this message in its entirety for non-commercial purposes with as many people as you like.

© 2016 Michael Martin

Take this Bitter Cup from Me

“And when he came to the place, he said to them, ‘Pray that you may not enter into temptation.’ And he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed, saying, ‘Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.’” Luke 22:40-42

A friend and I were speaking recently and he was very troubled regarding a situation that he felt was coming to a head.  He knew what he wanted to do in order to avert trouble and honor God.  And after he shared his heart with me I had to admit it sounded like a reasonable plan which had the potential for a positive outcome.  But something was holding him back.  I asked him what it was.  He said, “That is my will for resolving this situation; but I just don’t know if it is God’s will.  And I’m not sure how to figure out what God’s will is for this situation.”

Have you ever found yourself in a similar situation?  Since God is conforming us into the likeness of Jesus Christ we need not look any farther than how Jesus handled the most troubling situation known to man, which was recorded in Luke 22:39-46.

1) Pray.  As Christians, Satan is our arch enemy and he attempts to deceive, distort, and mislead – “Did God actually say…” (Genesis 3:1).  When facing adversity we must first pray for wisdom and understanding (James 1:5).  Wisdom which will help us delineate what part of the adversity is a trial, and what part of the adversity is temptation.

A trial is an opportunity for you to practice Christ likeness by obeying God’s Word, and glorifying Him (James 1:2-4).  A temptation, which cannot originate from God, is a solicitation for you to disobey God’s Word and to gratify your fleshly desires. When you yield to temptation, you inevitably experience consequences (James 1:13-15).  We must pray for strength to resist rushing headlong into temptation.  Satan is a strong enemy and we cannot fight him and win on our own strength.  We must be strong in the strength of God (Ephesians 6:10-11).

We must understand that God wants to hear from us; wants us to rely on him; and wants us to desire his help (1 Peter 5:7, Mark 11:22-24, Matt 7:7-11).  We can ask God to give us something or take something away from us; however we cannot want it more than we want God’s will to be done in a specific situation.  Christ did not want to go to the cross – in fact he asked the Father for an alternative.  But he also revealed His trust in the Father’s goodness and omniscience by stating that he would endure the pain, suffering, and humiliation if that is what God required.

2) Listen.  Jesus knew the Scriptures of the Old Testament inside out and consistently referred to them as authoritative.  2 Timothy 3:16 tells us that, “All Scripture is breathed out by God…”while Hebrews 4: 12 states that, “For the word of God is living and active…” God uses the Scriptures to speak to us and they are alive with His instruction. Whenever we face adversity we must seek the Scriptures diligently for clarity and counsel on how to proceed so as to please Him (Proverbs 4:20-27).

3) Act in humility.  The only door open to Jesus was the one which lead to the cross.  He asked for another door to be opened – an alternative but God did not provide it.  Jesus didn’t try to create his own door (another option) in his own strength, because he understood that if God wanted him to go in another direction then God would provide the direction through an alternative option; and it would be readily apparent to Jesus. That alternative was never presented and so Jesus went to the cross in faith and trust.

At some point in time we must act and move forward.  But as we do so it is important to acknowledge the power, wisdom, and holiness that only God secures (Psalm 147:5-6, Proverbs 3:5-6).  Through prayer share with God how you see and understand the landscape of your situation.  Explain to him how you plan on moving forward.  Ask him to rule and overrule your plans by closing doors that may be harmful to step through, and opening doors which lead to His will being done (Revelation 3:8, Matthew 7:7).  And then as those prayers are answered and doors are opened, step through them in faith and trust understanding that God is working all things together for good, according to His purpose, in the lives of Christ followers.

My friend is still in the midst of working through his situation but he now has a much clearer picture of how to seek, pursue, and fulfill God’s will; not only in this time of adversity but in times to come.

Permission to distribute: Please feel free to download, print, or electronically share this message in its entirety for non-commercial purposes with as many people as you like.

© 2016 Michael Martin