HelpFinder Bible - Flipbook - Page 91
page A89
Depression See also Burnout; Encouragement; Grief; Loneliness;
Self-Esteem
Sooner or later most of us experience some form of depression. It can descend slowly, like
the coming of an evening rain. It can overwhelm like an avalanche of darkness. It can be
the result of a real situation of failure or loss, or it can invade our minds for no discernible
reason. The Bible includes stories of people who experienced depression of all kinds, and
parts of Scripture were written by people experiencing feelings much like depression. The
good news is that God does not regard depression as sin but rather responds to those
who suffer its darkness with great tenderness, understanding, and compassion.
How am I vulnerable to depression?
• 1 K I NG S 1 9 :3 -4 | Elijah was afraid and fled for his life. . . . Then he went on alone into the
wilderness, traveling all day. He sat down under a solitary broom tree and prayed that he
might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life, for I am no better than my
ancestors.” (See note on page 321.)
• PSA L M 4 2 :3 -5 | 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. . . . Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad?
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You can be especially vulnerable to depression after a major victory. Elijah had just
defeated four hundred fifty prophets of Baal and seen God work several mighty miracles,
yet he was afraid and depressed. Between his exhaustion and his emotional swing after
the high of victory, he was susceptible to depression.
Depression can occur when you realize how wide the gap is between the ideal you strive
for and the reality you see within and around you. This can create a great sense of loss.
• MAT T H E W 2 6 :3 6 -3 9 | Then Jesus went with them to the olive grove called Gethsemane,
and he said, “Sit here while I go over there to pray.” . . . He told them, “My soul is crushed
with grief to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.” He went on a little
farther and bowed with his face to the ground, praying, “My Father! If it is possible, let this
cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.”
Depression can come from being asked by God to do an extraordinarily hard task and
realizing what you may have to suffer to do it.
• 1 SA MU E L 1 6 :1 4 | Now the Spirit of the Lord had left Saul, and the Lord sent a tormenting
spirit that filled him with depression and fear.
When you neglect the Lord to the point where he can no longer get your attention, then he
may neglect you for a while, and depression can move easily into the vacant room in your
heart. The farther you move from God, the less hope you have of receiving the joy of his
blessings.
• J E R E MI A H 8 :1 8 | My grief is beyond healing; my heart is broken.
A broken heart is ripe for depression.
• PR O VE R B S 1 3 :1 2 | Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a dream fulfilled is a tree
of life.
A heart without hope is a heart headed for depression.
• E C C L E S I A S T E S 4 :8 | This is the case of a man who is all alone, without a child or a brother,
yet who works hard to gain as much wealth as he can. But then he asks himself, “Who am
I working for? Why am I giving up so much pleasure now?” It is all so meaningless and
depressing.
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Depression often comes from looking backward at what you have lost.
• R O MA NS 7 :1 9 -2 4 | I want to do what is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what is wrong,
but I do it anyway. But if I do what I don’t want to do, I am not really the one doing wrong;
it is sin living in me that does it. . . . I love God’s law with all my heart. But there is another
power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that
is still within me. Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is
dominated by sin and death?