Depression: A Devotional For The Wounded Spirit Намуна

In the midst of depression there are days where your only comfort seems to be your tears or maybe even just a song you put on repeat. While everything around us seems dark, we all want to know the same question:

“Where are you, God?”

Many times it can feel as if we’ve been abandoned in the midst of an endless night. His presence is nowhere to be found, and though we cry out all we can hear sometimes is… silence.

The Scriptures are quick to remind us that just because there’s no rescue in sight doesn’t mean God is indifferent. They also emphasize that even when we can’t feel or see him moving, he sees our pain and hears us. In the midst of depression, hurt, and struggle, the only thing that feels real is our emotion. Because our feelings are so overwhelming, they can often block our ability to feel God even though he’s close by.

King David was a man who understood depression and suffering, but remembered that the Lord was near to him in the midst of his greatest failures and moments of desperation and hurt. He reminds us that God hasn’t forsaken us. In fact, the Scripture only tells the story of one man whom God forsook: Jesus.

While Jesus was on the cross, He cried out “Why have you forsaken me?” (A messianic echo of David’s Psalm in chapter 22). This is the last time God ever walked away from a child, and that was his only begotten son. The reason why? So that he would never have to walk away from us because of our sin. While we may feel forsaken, Jesus is the one who truly was.

Today’s Practical Step:

Each day, look for something that shows God being gentle with you or offering encouragement (ie. A friend reached out, you got a good grade, a sunrise or song). Just focus on anything that’s a break and see if he is indeed close by.