Unit 2- Dark Times of Depression

Lesson: Causes and Characteristics of Depression
Read: Psalm 77

“I remembered God, and was troubled; I complained, and my spirit was overwhelmed…You hold my eyelids open; I am so troubled that I cannot speak” (Psalm 77:3-4 NKJV).

Reflect:

1. Even though Asaph called out and sought the Lord, what was the result at first (Psalm 77:2)?

2. What did Aspah do when he was unable to sleep or speak (Psalm 77:5-6)?

3. What were some of the things God did that Asaph mention in Psalm 77:16-20?

Answer Key:

1. His hand was stretched out in the night without ceasing and his “soul refused to be comforted.”

2. Considered the days of old, called to remembrance his song during the night, meditated, and diligently searched.

3. The waters were afraid of God, the depths trembled, God caused rain, thunder, and lightening, the earth trembled and shook for God’s path is even in the sea.  God led His people like a flock.

You have a case of the blues. You’re irritable, tired, not too much fun to be with. You have trouble sleeping. What’s worse, getting up in the morning is a chore. You find no excitement, no challenge, in your day anymore. You’re depressed.

Well, you’re not alone. One out of every seven people in America this year will seek help from a friend, a pastor or a counselor for depression. It’s the leading psychiatric illness on our college campuses today. Depression affects the home, the church, the business community. American business calculates that the dollar amount lost in productivity in the workplace due to depression is $6 billion annually. 

Surviving the dark times of depression requires a clear understanding of the causes and cures of depression. The medical and psychiatric communities have proposed various treatments—from psychotherapy, psychotropic therapy (drugs or electroshock treatments) to cognitive therapy. If depression is severe, you should see your doctor!

But most depression is mild to moderate, and whether we like to admit it or not, most depression is a deliberate choice. Situations in our lives or unfavorable conditions simply overpower us. We need a way to recover the joy in our lives, and that’s where God’s Word comes in.
 
The causes of depression are many. Some people are depressed because they are dwelling on a painful incident in their past. Perhaps they made a mistake, or think they did, and they blame themselves for the consequences. They’re depressed.

Sometimes depression is a result of physical causes. Physicians speak of chemical imbalances, hypoglycemia and poor nutritional habits as being causes of depression.

Depression can also have psychological causes. Uncontrolled or unvented anger, self-pity, stress, a change in your life situation, even rising to the top of your profession or reaching your goals can all cause depression.

But we dare not overlook the spiritual roots of depression. When the Spirit of God is working in our lives, unconfessed sin can be a source of depression. Or failing to forgive someone—even though we know it’s our responsibility to forgive the repentant sinner—can be a spiritual cause of depression.

Depression is a common malady in our fast-paced world, and it takes its toll on Christians and non-Christians alike. But how will you know if you’re depressed? What are the signs of depression?

Depression frequently masks itself as general apathy or lethargy, a lack of energy, sleeplessness, or a lack of motivation. Sometimes depression is so severe it takes the form of intense despair. The inability to make decisions is a sign of depression, as is a prolonged carelessness about your appearance. Hopelessness, helplessness, sleeplessness-these are the big three signs of depression.

Of course, you could experience any of these symptoms and not be severely or even moderately depressed. But depression is real. It’s one of the most difficult times in our lives.

David was a champion. The crowds chanted, “Saul has slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands” (1 Samuel 18:7). When he became king of Israel he conquered every nation around him. But in Psalm 38:4 David confessed, “For my iniquities are gone over my head; like a heavy burden they are too heavy for me.” The king was depressed because of the sins in his life.

Depression threatens the inner tranquility of our lives. The psalmist Asaph understood this and said, “In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord . . . my soul refused to be comforted. I remembered God, and was troubled: I complained, and my spirit was overwhelmed. Selah. You hold my eyelids open; I am so troubled that I cannot speak” (Psalm 77:2-4). Asaph couldn’t sleep because he was so depressed. All his inner tranquility was gone. He was troubled. His spirit was overwhelmed. He complained. That’s depression.

Sometimes we get depressed when we’re lonely. The prophet Elijah’s greatest and most depressing defeat came immediately after his greatest victory. First Kings 18 records his great victory over the prophets of Baal. First Kings 19 records his great depression.  Having just fled from the wicked Queen Jezebel, Elijah was in the wilderness of Sinai, sulking under a juniper tree. But what is worse, so great was his depression that he requested God to take his life (1 Kings 19:4). Elijah was so depressed he was suicidal, one of the characteristics of severe depression. He thought that he alone stood for God, that no one else cared. He said, “I alone am left” (1 Kings 19:10). But God still had seven thousand in Israel who had not worshiped Baal (1 Kings 19:18). Elijah had no reason to be depressed. It was his choice.

Is it possible for a person who loves God to become so depressed that he or she would want to die? Well, Elijah did, and so did another depressed person who was no spiritual weakling. In 2 Corinthians 1:8,9 the apostle Paul says that his troubles were so burdensome, so much beyond his own strength to deal with, that he “despaired even of life.” He wasn’t sure he could go on. But Paul quickly added that those thoughts of suicide were his own and that the antidote was to trust God instead of himself.

Apply:

1. Are you like Asaph who was so troubled he could not close his eyes or even speak (Psalm 77:4)?  Is there something that seems impossible?  Consider giving it all to God right now even though at first you may feel like Asaph whose “soul refused to be comforted” (Psalm 77:2).  Choose to let God bring peace into your life right now.

2. Look at how Asaph reflected and meditated on what God had done in the past to help him through his hard time.  What has God done for you in the past?  Make a list of some of the troubles and problems you were able to overcome because of God.

 

Express:
Praise God for the strength He gives us to overcome feelings of depression.  Consider the prayer of Job after everything had been taken from him. “I know that you can do all things; no plan of yours can be thwarted” (Job 42:2 NIV).

Additional Help in Prayer:
Lord, I thank You that I am in Your hands no matter how troubled I am.  I pray that You would bring me peace and comfort and that even if You do not bring me through this trouble right away that I would go on boldly living for You, realizing that Your plan for me is perfect.  Give me strength Lord.

Lesson: Cure for Depression
Read: Psalm 43

“Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; for I shall yet praise Him, the help of my countenance and my God” (Psalm 43:5 NKJV).

Reflect:

1. What does the Psalmist ask for in verse 1 of Psalm 43?

2. How does Psalm 43:2 describe God?

3. In Psalm 43:5 what does the psalmist say he will do when his soul is downcast and disquieted?

Answer Key:

1. Vindication, for God to plead his cause, and to be delivered from the deceitful and unjust man.

2. “The God of my strength.”

3. Hope in the Lord and praise His name.

Depression may last a long time (months or even years) if you don’t deal with it in a biblical way. But what is the biblical way of dealing with depression?

First, you cannot be helped with a problem until you admit you have a problem. It is no sin to be depressed. Great men and women of God have been depressed. But you must not remain depressed. Acknowledging your depression is the entry-level step to dealing with it. Depression’s cure begins with a tough look at ourselves and a free admission that we need help.

Second, share your burden of depression with God. Whatever or whoever is getting you down, spell that out to God. After all, depression is a burden, and God doesn’t want you to bear that burden alone. That’s why 1 Peter 5:7 counsels you to cast all your care upon the Lord Jesus, for He cares for you.

Third, once you have shared your burden of depression with God, share it with a trusted Christian friend as well. Remember, Paul said, “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:2, NKJV). Find a faithful, trustworthy, spiritually-discerning friend, and share your burden with him or her.

Fourth, take positive steps to insure that your depression is not physical. Many people could eliminate some of their depression simply by taking better care of their bodies. They do not get enough rest nor eat properly. They need to consider 1 Corinthians 6:19, “Do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit?”

Remember the story of Elijah under the juniper tree? There he slept, and an angel of the Lord awakened him and said, “Arise and eat” (1 Kings. 19:5). When he was well rested and well fed, Elijah carried on in that strength for 40 days and 40 nights (1 Kings 19:8). Depression was dispelled simply by God’s giving him proper rest and nutrition. Maybe you need the same.

Fifth, develop an attitude of gratitude. Hebrews 13:15 mentions continually offering “the sacrifice of praise to God.” In order to sacrifice you must give up something. In this case that means giving up the negative attitudes and feelings that cause depression. Give up your self-pity and become thankful. “In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Thessalonians 5:18).

Sixth, along with developing an attitude of gratitude, develop the practice of praise. The psalmist asked, “Why art thou cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; for I shall yet praise Him” (Psalm 43:5). The antidote to depression is praise and hope in God. I have never yet met a depressed person who was sincerely praising God.

Seventh, learn to face your depression with quiet confidence in God. This is what Job did. In his darkest times he cried, “The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord” (Job 1:21). That’s not foolhardy faith; that’s quiet confidence in the God who delivers us from depression.

You can survive the dark times of depression. But don’t try to survive them alone. God awaits your cry for help. Cast your care on Him as well as Christian friends who await your cry for help. Whatever the cause of depression, surviving it means reaching out to God and to others. God wants you to survive. You can survive.

Apply:

1. Are you afraid to move from the darkness of doubts and sadness into joy?  What’s keeping you from giving everything over to God.  Look at the promise God made to Abraham in Genesis 15:1, “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward.”  Write out a prayer to God, giving Him all your burdens.  Pray that prayer when you find yourself sinking into depression.

2. Read 1 Corinthians 15:29-34.  Do you feel like some of the people of Paul’s day who would say “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die!”  Do you feel this sort of hopelessness—your life seems meaningless?  Paul says he is dying daily, but look at the tone of hope he has in this passage because he has life in Christ Jesus.  Do you have a hope that shows through to others?  Ask God for help in this area.

 

Express:
Pray that God would give you joy.  Follow Philippians 4:6 “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God” (italics added).  Use the steps in italics to guide your prayer to God.

Additional Help in Prayer:
Heavenly Father I pray to You now and humbly ask that You would give me happiness and joy.  I pray that You would let me shine cheerfully to those around me because You live in me.  I thank you for the many things You’ve me and I give all my requests over to You.

Practice This Unit:

1. Are you feeling down?  Look for someone you know who also seems down?  Make it a point this week to do something encouraging for them: send them a card, bring over a meal, or maybe gently encourage them in conversation with some verses about the power of God.  See what happens when you focus on someone else’s needs.

2. How could you find peace for your downcast soul?  Follow the Psalmist advice to hope in the Lord and praise Him (Psalm 43:5)?  Challenge yourself to find one thing each day to give praise for this week.