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Plan for: Thanksgiving | Advent | Christmas
Explore the topic of depression through the lens of Psalm 42, demonstrating how the Psalmist cries out to God in despair and finds hope in His faithfulness, offering comfort and understanding for those experiencing similar struggles.
Good morning, everyone. Welcome to today's service. Today, we're going to be tackling a topic that isn't always talked about in church but is so important – depression. Yes, we're going there.
You know, Charles Spurgeon once said, "I find myself frequently depressed - perhaps more so than any other person here. And I find no better cure for that depression than to trust in the Lord with all my heart, and seek to realize afresh the power of the peace-speaking words of Jesus."
Let's look at Psalm 42:1-11:
"As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God? My tears have been my food day and night, while people say to me all day long, “Where is your God?” These things I remember as I pour out my soul: how I used to go to the house of God under the protection of the Mighty One with shouts of joy and praise among the festive throng. Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God. My soul is downcast within me; therefore I will remember you from the land of the Jordan, the heights of Hermon—from Mount Mizar. Deep calls to deep in the roar of your waterfalls; all your waves and breakers have swept over me. By day the Lord directs his love, at night his song is with me—a prayer to the God of my life. I say to God my Rock, “Why have you forgotten me? Why must I go about mourning, oppressed by the enemy?” My bones suffer mortal agony as my foes taunt me, saying to me all day long, “Where is your God?” Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God."
Depression is a heavy word, a word that carries with it a weight that can be felt deep in the soul. It is a word that describes a state of being that is far more than just feeling sad or down. It is a profound sense of despair, a deep-seated sorrow that can feel all-consuming. The Psalmist in Psalm 42 is experiencing this kind of depression.
Often misunderstood, especially within the church: It's not simply a lack of faith or a sign of weakness. It's a real and serious mental health condition that can affect anyone, regardless of their faith or strength. The Psalmist, a man after God's own heart, was not immune to it. He felt forgotten by God, oppressed by his enemies, and taunted with the question, "Where is your God?" His depression was not a result of his lack of faith, but a part of his human experience.
Can feel like a constant, relentless storm: The Psalmist describes it as waves and breakers sweeping over him. It's a powerful image that captures the overwhelming nature of depression. It's not a storm that you can simply weather and then it's over. It's a storm that keeps coming, wave after wave, with no end in sight. It's a storm that can make you feel like you're drowning, with no hope of rescue.
The Psalmist does not lose sight of God: He acknowledges his despair, but he also acknowledges his thirst for God. He longs for the living God, the one who can quench his soul's thirst. He remembers how he used to go to the house of God with shouts of joy and praise. He remembers the God of his life, the God who directs his love by day and gives him a song at night. He remembers his Savior and his God, the one in whom he puts his hope.
Can make you feel isolated and alone: The Psalmist reminds us that we are never alone. God is with us, even in the depths of our despair. He is our Rock, our refuge in times of trouble. He is the one who can bring us through the storm, who can calm the waves and still the breakers. He is the one who can restore our souls and lift up our heads.
A complex and multifaceted issue: It's not something that can be easily explained or understood. It's not something that can be quickly fixed or cured. But it's something that can be brought to God, laid at his feet, and entrusted to his care. It's something that can be met with his love, his grace, and his mercy.
The Psalmist is not just feeling a little down or having a bad day ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO
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