Ever suffer from depression? Ever get sucked into emotional quicksand. Telling yourself to snap out of it, or trying reason up out of the muck only makes it worse?
Abraham Lincoln once said about his depression.
“I am now the most miserable man living,” . . . “If what I feel were equally distributed to the whole human family, there would not be one cheerful face on the earth. . . Whether I shall ever be better I can not tell . . . To remain as I am is impossible; I must die or be better.”
Great pastors have been swamped by depression too. Charles Spurgeon was one of the greatest preachers ever. But, his church leaders once informed his congregation:
“You are anxious to hear about our poor pastor – – he is very bad. Very bad I say, not from any injuries or bruises he has received, but from the extreme tension on his nerves and his great anxiety. So bad is he that we were fearful for his mind this morning. . . .”
Spurgeon said that he could not think himself out of his depression. He said that his thoughts were like knives shredding his heart into pieces.
And, King David wrote about depression. In Psalm 69 David said it was like being in deep filthy mud where there is no foothold
. . . . . Save me, O God, for the waters have come up to my neck. I sink in the miry depths, where there is no foothold. I have come into the deep waters. . . My eyes fail, looking for my God (Psalm 69:1-3).”
Listen. If you are feeling depressed – – really blue – – really down, then this spot is for you. Friend, you are not alone, not the only one who feels so down. The Bible and the church of the Lord Jesus Christ have answers, not only about where you will spend eternity, but about where you are emotionally today.
I am Chris Brauns from the Red Brick Church in Stillman Valley. If you had a hard time even getting out of bed this morning. Listen to some good Christian music, read some Psalms, and get Christ and Word centered help. Our web site is www.theredbrickchurch.org.
Until about two months ago, I suffered from depression. I realise these days how deeply I was depressed before, and as I look back on those “dangerous” moments I had, I can only praise and thank God that He had kept me and sustained me. I am not entirely sure whether I am completely free from depression or not, but I believe God will, in His grace, carry me till the end.
I just wanted to expose myself a little bit here, so that the (depressed) reader would know that you are not alone even if you didn’t count our Lord. Of course, knowing that you are not alone in this struggle is not enough. So, just like Chris suggested, I encourage you to go to the Lord who will comfort you and satisfy you, through prayer, the Bible, sermons, Christian music, worship, and fellowship with other godly Christians.
Last night I listened to John Piper and John MacArthur being interviewed by Justin Taylor. Piper talked about how he has struggled terribly with depression at points.