HOW TO DEAL WITH DEPRESSION                            Psalm 42:1-11

Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance.  (v5 NIV)

Some of the godliest people in the Bible and in church history battled depression. Job  experienced it through the back – to- back losses of his children, his wealth, and his health. Moses “spoke face to face (with God) as a man speaks to his friend “(Exodus 33:11 NKJV) Yet the pressure of leading Israel over whelmed him to the point of despairs. Elijah conquered the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel, and afterwards became so depressed that he wanted to die. Charles Haddon Spurgeon, one of the greatest preachers who ever lived, called depression, “the black dog” that followed him all his life. Depression in some form will touch each of us at some point in life. Long term depression takes longer to get over. But the longer road in the world is shorter when you take the first step, and that step is turning to God. Whether your depression is caused by the pressure of responsibility like Moses, or by losing things you love like Job, or feeling drained on the heels of a great success like Elijah, you must turn to the Great Physician and let Him make you whole. It’s what the psalmist did. “My soul is downcast within me, therefore I will remember you” (Psalm 42:6 NIV) David doesn’t deny his emotions, he expresses them to God in prayer. “Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me?” (v11 NIV) But he doesn’t stop there “Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise  him, my Saviour and my God.” Notice, depression lifts and hope returns when you begin to praise God and trust His goodness. (TWFT)

PRAYER LINE: Father, thank You for the knowledge that the longer road in the world is shorter when we take the first step in turning to You, the Great Physician.

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Surrender is first step to salvation.