HoHum:
Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a type of depression that's related to changes in seasons — SAD begins and ends at about the same times every year. SAD starts in the fall (right now) and continues into the winter months. Know of one woman who has dementia that suffers from this.
WBTU:
Hear a lot about depression nowadays. Some think this is just an invention of modern psychology. However, depression has existed since the fall of mankind. Depression used to be called melancholy. Documents written by people throughout history point to the long-standing existence of depression as a problem, and the struggles people have made to find effective ways to treat this. Throughout history people have debated if depression is mainly a physical or a mental illness, is this a defect in the body or in the mind/spirit. In reality depression involves the whole person. There are documented physical changes that happen with depression along with spiritual struggles. Many today only address the physical problems without dealing with the spiritual struggle. Just take a pill is lacking to deal with depression. Need to address the physical along with the spiritual. Depression frequently has multiple causes, including biological, psychological and social causes.
This morning I am mainly talking about situational depression, depression that results from some kind of traumatic event. This kind of depression is easily seen in those suffering through some terrible events. Constant depression can have a traumatic event as a trigger, but the depression goes on longer than it should. On the other hand, some kinds of depression can come upon a person without any traumatic event. If someone suffers continually from depression, they need to talk with a medical doctor and see a Christian therapist on a regular basis. The reason I say this is that those going through depression have suicidal thoughts and I would hate for someone to take their own life without seeking help. Just read the Bible and pray is good advice but much is lacking if this is all we tell people who are suffering from depression. Many depressed people do read their Bibles and pray but their depression lingers so they begin to think something is wrong with their faith. They might start to think that their depression is God’s curse upon them and so they despair and give up all hope. No hope leads to suicidal thoughts. The enemy uses depression to “steal, kill and destroy” (John 10:10). Want to give hope
Go to Psalm 102, called “A Prayer of the Afflicted.” The psalmist here is meeting with personal sorrow and grief. Like Jeremiah in the book Lamentations, the psalmist mourns over the Babylonian captivity and the ruins of Jerusalem. He also alludes to the opposition to rebuild Jerusalem and restore the nation of Israel. Even though these events were sent against the nation of Israel, this affected the Psalmist on a personal level. He is experiencing so much discouragement and depression that his heart is blighted (NIV), smitten (NASB), struck down (English Standard), beaten down (God’s Word Translation). Sounds like depression to me
Psalm 102 gives us a picture of a depressed person. Start with 2 things from Psalm 102
1. A loss of appetite. “I forget to eat my food- vs. 4”. No pleasure or excitement
2. Loss of joy. “Mingle my drink with tears- vs. 9”- no happiness, no joy, all is sadness
As we get started notice that there are 2 divisions to Psalm 102. In vs. 1-11, the psalmist pours out his discouraging complaints. In vs. 12-28, he expresses his confidence in God. In vs. 1-11, the psalmist focuses on his personal feelings. In vs. 12-28, he changes his focus and looks to the Lord. In vs. 1-11, the psalmist is expressing his depression. In vs. 12-28, he is lifted up because of the power and hope found in God.
Thesis: Let’s talk about the lot, lamenting and the Lord of the depressed
For instances:
The Lot of the depressed
Vs. 3- “My days vanish like smoke”- means that my days are vanishing away as nothing, my days are wasted. My days are accomplishing no good thing. I am worthless. Satan wants to tell us that this wilderness is a wasted season. But the truth is:
1. God will use our weaknesses for His glory. “But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” 2 Corinthians 12:9, 10, NIV.
2. God will redeem what we feel is wasted. “O Lord, you took up my case; you redeemed my life.” Lamentations 3:58, NIV.
3. God will use our disappointments to shine His grace through us to other people. “And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.” Romans 5:5, NIV.
Vs. 4- “My heart is like withered grass”- means that I am dry and thirsty as in a drought. I’m dropping over like a flower, parched and weakened. The devil wants to tell us that our faltering strength cannot be renewed. We will never be strong and thriving in the Lord. But the truth is:
1. God does strengthen Christians who are weak. “For to be sure, he was crucified in weakness, yet he lives by God’s power. Likewise, we are weak in him, yet by God’s power we will live with him to serve you.” 2 Corinthians 13:4, NIV.
2. God does renew those who are thirsty. “On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.”” John 7:37, 38, NIV.
3. God does sustain His own regardless of the circumstances surrounding us. “Even to your old age and grey hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you.” Isaiah 46:4, NIV.
Vs. 11- “My days are like the evening shadow”- means that the psalmist has lost sight of the whole picture. He views his life only in light of the present. The enemy wants to tell us that nothing good will come from testing, that nothing good develops from brokenness, that tears and pain are wasted and useless. But the truth is:
1. Our affliction will result in glory. “For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.” 2 Corinthians 4:17, NIV.
2. Our testing will produce character. “Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.” Romans 5:3, 4, NIV.
3. Our experiences will bear fruit. “No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.” Hebrews 12:11, NIV.
The Lamenting of the depressed, or the bird language of depression
Vs. 6- King James I am like a pelican of the wilderness. The pelican can sit for hours with its beak on its breast. Picture of sitting alone in solitude with no one in sight. The pelican is the symbol of loneliness.
Vs. 6- NIV Like an owl among the ruins. The owl will sit constantly twisting its neck, nervously looking around. The owl refuses to calm down, ever looking and turning with restless energy. The owl is the symbol of anxiety.
Vs. 7- Bird (sparrow- KJV) alone on a housetop. This bird stays awake and is afraid to sleep. The sparrow is the symbol of sleeplessness.
The Lord of the depressed
Following all this gloom we find vs. 12 “But you, O Lord,” What helps to cure the blues of a depressed spirit? 5 nails in the coffin of depression
1. The Lord will remain. Psalm 102:12. God’s purposes will be fulfilled, so rest at ease!
2. The Lord will rise. Psalm 102:13. Jerusalem seemed hopeless, but God rose and enabled her to be built again.
3. The Lord will restore. Psalm 102:16. God restored Jerusalem’s glory and splendor again.
4. The Lord will respond. Psalm 102:17. The Lord was (and is) answering prayer today.
5. The Lord will release. Psalm 102:20. Jesus breaks the power of sin and sets the prisoner free!
So what?
I have only scratched the surface of this Psalm and I have only scratched the surface of talking about depression. Toward the end of Psalm 102 the psalmist again goes back to his depression, look at vs. 23-24. It is interesting that vs. 25-27 are quoted in the NT. Go to Hebrews 1:10-12 and read this. What does this have to do with depression? We are told that the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World were wonderful! We wouldn’t know because Six of these remarkable achievements have been destroyed—Only the pyramids of Egypt remain to fill us with awe. We must never forget that everything in our world is temporary, even depression does not stay forever. This world will perish, only the Lord will remain. Direct them to the closing hymn abide with me, especially the last stanza, “Hold Thou Thy Cross before my closing eyes; Shine through the gloom and point me to the skies: Heaven’s morning breaks, and earth’s vain shadows flee; in life in death, O Lord, abide with me.
