Depression

Depression is one of those moods no one likes to experience. For others depression is very severe and not a passing mood. Generally, Christians are not open to telling others they are depressed because after all, the joy of the Lord is their strength. If only they could experience such joy to push back the dark clouds in their minds! Just maybe they might laugh for once instead of being swallowed up by this dreadful feeling of despair and anxiety.

The book of Psalms is like medicine to the weary, down cast soul.

Take for instance David's cry, "Unto thee will I cry, O LORD my rock; be not silent to me: lest, if thou be silent to me, I become like them that go down into the pit." (Psalms 28:1, KJV). Or Psalms 69:15, "Let not the waterflood overflow me, neither let the deep swallow me up, and let not the pit shut her mouth upon me."

Beloved, whatever the reason or cause for depression, we have a promise in the Scripture. The promise is God is light and in Him there is no darkness. Psalms 139:12 says, "even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you."

The way out of depression is allowing God to bath us in the light of His gracious presence.

From personal experience, God's light revealed some sources of depression - poor eating habits, too much sugar, lack of sleep, watching and reading things that didn't produce healthy and godly thoughts, etc. Of course, there was the spiritual problem. Does God see me in my darkest moments? Would He take my hand and lead me into the brightness of His radiance? In those dark times, I discovered a truth that soon defeated depression.

It's grace, my brothers and sisters, grace will defeat depression at every turn.

God does not lay on our backs a heavy burden to get over it or condemn us when suffering from depression. No, He meets us with grace, an expression of His goodness and mercy. Grace reminds us we are loved and cared for by a Father who sees us in process and is not ashamed when we feel or act ugly.

If you are finding yourself in a midnight hour (like Paul and Silas )here is a song to surely bring release to your mind and soul. As you sing or read the words, truly God's grace will break every chain and fling open every gate to bring you into freedom!

Marvelous grace of our loving Lord,
Grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt!
Yonder on Calvary’s mount outpoured,
There where the blood of the Lamb was spilled.

Refrain:
Grace, grace, God’s grace,
Grace that will pardon and cleanse within;
Grace, grace, God’s grace,
Grace that is greater than all our sin!

Sin and despair, like the sea waves cold,
Threaten the soul with infinite loss;
Grace that is greater, yes, grace untold,
Points to the refuge, the mighty cross.

Dark is the stain that we cannot hide;
What can we do to wash it away?
Look! There is flowing a crimson tide,
Brighter than snow you may be today.

Marvelous, infinite, matchless grace,
Freely bestowed on all who believe!
You that are longing to see His face,
Will you this moment His grace receive?

Julia H. Johnston, pub.1911