What Are You Dong Here? (A Message About Depression) Series

What Are You Doing Here?

As the deer longs for streams of water so I long for you, O God. I thirst for God, the living God. When can I go and stand before him? Day and night I have only tears for food, while my enemies continually taunt me, saying, “Where is this God of yours?” My heart is breaking as I remember how it used to be: I walked among the crowds of worshipers, leading a great procession to the house of God, singing for joy and giving thanks amid the sound of a great celebration! Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again— my Savior and my God! Now I am deeply discouraged, but I will remember you— even from distant Mount Hermon, the source of the Jordan, from the land of Mount Mizar. – Psalm 42:1-6

Prayer

OKAY – so, we have been in this series called, ‘Such Things Were Written’, our theme verse is…

‘Such things were written in the Scriptures long ago to teach us. They give us hope and encouragement as we wait patiently for God’s promises. – Romans 15:4

AND LISTEN – here’s the deal, since July 19… we have been taught, warned… and given hope and encouragement from.

• The story of Naomi and Ruth

• David and Goliath

• The Life of Jeremiah

• A surprising warrior named Gideon

• Two periods of Israel history (Wilderness/Conquest)

• The life of Solomon

• 4 chapters in the life of David that taught us that…. our God can use anyone, His power can do anything, His timing is anytime, and His grace can be found anywhere.

• And also from the time when the nation of Israel experienced a major breakup (it’s not you; it’s me) forming 2 separate kingdoms, and among other things we learned last week that they to heal and prevent breakups is to – pray, draw closer to God, put on the attitude of Christ, seek godly counsel, make wise decision (based on whether it will hurt or help create unity) and remember your ultimate purpose

NOW – this morning we are going to unpack a conversation called, “What are you doing here?”

IT’S - a conversation about depression.

ABOUT – how we fall into it, and how we can climb out of it.

QUESTION – have you ever been in a season of life where it just seems like everything is going wrong.

A SEASON – where when your phone rings or an email comes you don’t want to answer or open it up, because you are certain that it is only going to be more bad news?

A SEASON – where you are not even sure if you want to get out of bed, where - you are just weighed down with worry and fear. You wonder what’s next. LIKE- when will the next shoe drop. Your exhausted from anxiety and stress.

A SEASON – where it doesn’t seem to matter what you do, you are always just so tired. And you wonder if things are ever going to turn around in your life and get better.

I MEAN – it’s like satan is seems to be attacking you every day and on multiple fronts.

Have you ever been there? Are you there?

NOW UNDERSTAND - difficult and unexpected circumstances happen, they are just a part of life on this planet

(as Jesus said, in this world you will have trouble….)

AND SO – I am not talking about the kind of discouragement, that just pretty comes and goes…

IT COMES – when something bad happens, and

AND IT GOES – when something good happens.

INSTEAD – I’m talking about a deep discouragement…

YOU KNOW – the kind that just hangs around, this dark cloud of despair that sets up camp in your heart and mind, making you feel like things are never going to turn around and get better…. “What are you doing here?”

AND LISTEN – right out the gates I want to make 2 things perfectly clear…

#1 -it is not a sin to be depressed.

#2 – struggling with depression does not make you a weak Christian or a bad person.

IN FACT – some pretty influential people throughout history have struggled with bouts of depression….

• Charles Dickens

• Winston Churchill

• Martin Luther

• Charles Spurgeon

• Isaac Newton - his college notebooks are filled with descriptions of personal anxiety, suicidal thoughts, low self-esteem and bouts of fear.

• Abraham Lincoln - Though it’s rarely taught in history class, President Lincoln fought clinical depression his entire life. Even as a young man, he talked of suicide more than once. His law partner William Herndon said of Lincoln, “His melancholy dripped from him as he walked,”