Day 7: Not a Failure, but a Fellow

If you are experiencing a “dark night of the soul,” you are not a failure. It just proves that you’re a fellow member of the human race. You are facing what most people will at one time or another in life; it’s part of our human experience. Others have overcome spiritual depression, and so can you.

Many years ago, there was a young Midwestern lawyer who was suffering from deep depression. It was so bad that his friends thought, We have to keep knives and razors away from him. He couldn’t see the worth of his life, and wrote, “I am now the most miserable man living…. Whether I shall ever be better I can not tell; I forebode I shall not.” But somehow, from somewhere, that young lawyer by the name of Abraham Lincoln got enough courage and encouragement to press ahead and influence the course of a nation. The rest is history.

Getting Practical

If you’re struggling with depression, besides getting sound medical advice from your physician, allow me to give you some pastoral advice in this acronym: REST.

R—Relationships. Surround yourself with loving, caring Christians. Have them pray for you and encourage you. Allow your godly relationships to help with priorities and the problems of life.

E—Exercise. With a doctor’s approval, find something to do physically. Work toward relieving the stress with good old-fashioned sweat.

S—Scripture. Turn to the Bible to find comfort and answers. Allow God to speak to you through His Word.

T—Trust. You must place yourself squarely in God’s hands, trusting Him to help you overcome all the trials of life—including depression. Trust is based on faith, not certainty. As the sons of Korah said in Psalms 42 and 43, “Hope in God.” Jesus put it this way: “Seek first the kingdom of God” (Matthew 6:33). Trust that the King of the kingdom knows His citizens and will care for them. Give your worries, your anxieties, your fears, and your sorrows over to Jesus; He has it under control, paid for by a crown of thorns that will one day be for the Christian the crown of life.

How to Comfort the Downcast Soul

If you're not currently struggling with depression, how can you best love the brokenhearted and depressed person? Use the acronym LOVE as a guide:

L—Listen to them. Make a sincere effort to get to know them and their situation.

O—Observe their life. Where are they coming from—emotionally, intellectually, and spiritually? Find the root of the issue. Ask yourself, How can I assist them?

V—Voice God’s truth. What does the Bible teach concerning depression, the active nature of love and service, and God’s faithfulness?

E—Embrace them with the love of God in Christ. Empathize based on shared experiences, but keep Jesus the focus of your conversation and outreach.

Jesus loves the broken and depressed. Will you?

For Further Thought

What encouragement can you take from the idea that everyone experiences depression at some point? What is something positive you can do for others? Engaging in this kind of loving ministry is especially important if you are feeling depressed. It will help you turn your thoughts from yourself to God and then toward others.

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