There is a famous atheist physicist who for years went around defending many scientific “facts” including the existence of black holes in space among other thing, arguing vehemently for their existence … that is … until last week when he decided, “well maybe there are black holes and maybe there are not any, anyway, they’re not like what I told you they were like for the past few decades.”
Well, whether there are black holes in space or not sometimes we can feel like we are trapped in an emotional or spiritual black hole with no possible way of escape.
You know that feeling … your energy level is down … it seems like you could sleep forever … everything everywhere is going wrong … there is no end in sight …
Do you ever get feeling down? Have you had one of those days? Have you had one of those weeks? Have you had one of those lives?
Psalm 42:5 and 11 ask the question
“Why are you in despair, O my soul? And why have you become disturbed within me?”
For those who do not know Jesus as their Savior or for those who have known God and are living in rebellion the main sources of depression are separation from God and the consequences of sin.
But even for those of us who know the Lord and are following after Him there may be times when we feel crushed by the weight of events.
(Illustration of Thomas A. Dorsey and why he wrote the hymn, (death of wife and child)
“Precious Lord, Take My Hand,
Lead me on, let me stand.
I am tired, I am weak, I am worn.
Through the storms, through the night,
lead me on, to the Light.
Precious Lord, take my hand, lead me home.”
Or your depression could be something totally outside of yourself such as Seasonal Affective Disorder:
The Mayo Clinic website says this about SAD
“Seasonal affective disorder is a type of depression that occurs at the same time every year. If you're like most people with seasonal affective disorder, your symptoms start in the fall and may continue into the winter months, sapping your energy and making you feel moody.”
Whatever the cause, God knows you and He knows your situation.
First - get rid of any sin in your life. I’m not talking about an occasional transgression by someone who is tenderhearted and repents as soon as they are checked by the Holy Spirit. I’m talking about someone who is holding on to a sin that they cherish and indulging that sin whenever possible.
Self-centeredness
Lust
Greed (hoarding, shop-a-holic, needing the newest and the best)
Pride
Stealing (dishonesty in business)
Any sin you embrace will eventually lead to depression because of inner guilt and condemnation.
Second - forgive - unforgiveness results in unforgetness
The offense just rattles around in your head until it makes you crazy and will eventually lead to anger and the unresolved anger will lead to despair and depression or murder.
Forgiveness is mentioned 63 times in the New Testament
Look at Ephesians 4:32.
“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”
And Colossians 3:13
“Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.”
Oh, by the way, if you’re not forgiving someone, you’re disobeying the Lord’s will. In that case revisit step #1 - Stop Sinning.
Third - trust God
Our grandson, Levi, will take a flying leap from the top of a small set of stairs and trust our Son, Joshua, to catch him in mid air. On the other hand sometimes a child will set up in a tree from which they can’t get down even though the father is saying trust me, I’ll catch you.
Do we dare to trust the Father when He says jump?
Psalm 42:5a
“Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God.”
Proverbs 3:5-8
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths.
“Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones.”
Something bad is happening or has happened and we feel we must solve the problem ourselves. We feel we must brainstorm. We must figure out all of the options. We must come up with a workable solution and then implement the solution. "If I don’t do it no one will."
“Put your hope in God.” “Trust in the Lord” “Acknowledge Him” “Do not be wise in your own eyes.”
Do you think you can handle it? No, you can’t.
Can you imagine the Lord ever asking you, “Why didn’t you put your hope in Me? Why didn’t you trust Me? Why didn’t you acknowledge My directions for you? Why did you depend on your own finite wisdom instead of my infinite wisdom?”
Trust in the Lord!
Fourth - Count your blessings - Give Thanks
Psalm 42:6
“I am deeply depressed; therefore I remember You from the land of Jordan and the peaks of Hermon, from Mount Mizar.”
“Therefore I will remember You …”
Testimony of when Pastor Karenlee was complaining to God about me and He told her He didn’t want to hear it any more; He just wanted her to praise Him for the good things about me and the changes it brought about.
Fifth - Praise the Lord (Repent, Forgive, Trust, Thanksgiving)
Psalm 42:11
“Why am I so depressed? Why this turmoil within me? Put your hope in God, for I will still praise Him, my Savior and my God.”
Once you are counting your blessings it will lead naturally to praise!
God is the source of our blessings.
God inhabits the praises of His people.
So, how are you feeling today? Do you have the weight of the world on your shoulders? Is there no way out?
In the midst of unbearable circumstances praising the Lord may seem ridiculous but praising Him will invite Him to walk through the valley of the shadow of death right beside you, lifting you up and bringing hope where there was no hope before.
Video (Praise the LORD) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EfvHDYtZosQ
One of the great things for which we give praise to the Lord is His uncomprehendable sacrifice on the cross of Calvary for salvation. And we do this when we partake of the Lord’s Supper or communion.
