ARE YOU DEPRESSED?

"But God, who comforts the depressed, comforted us" (II Corinthians 7:6).

Many times, there are medical reasons, but the primary emotional reason for depression is a lack of hope. Everyone experiences it at one time or another. Even the Apostle Paul experienced depression. He speaks about it in II Corinthians 7:4-6.

Paul begins by saying, "I am overflowing with joy in all our affliction." There's a big difference between happiness and joy. Paul didn't say he was happy. There is nothing wrong with happiness. But you can have joy in times when happiness isn't possible. If you are depressed today, there probably isn't a lot to be happy about. It's okay.

Paul also didn't say he was overflowing with joy because his affliction had been removed. No, he said he had joy IN his affliction. My sister, Janice Edmiston, wrote a classic poem that begins with "Joy through my teardrops and gains through my losses. Beauty for ashes and crowns for my crosses." That girl can write some poetry. Just saying!

Keep reading from Paul, "Our flesh had no rest. We were afflicted on every side: conflicts without, fears within." Think about what Paul is saying. He had no rest! His body was in a weakened position and, therefore, open to attack. Satan always preys on the weak, the wounded, and the weary. A nap may do you a world of good.

On top of that, he says he was afflicted on every side. There wasn't a single peaceful place to turn. There was no safe harbor. That's when the lack of hope settled in like a dark cloud, and depression followed. The great apostle was tired. Everything around him was in turmoil; even worse, everything inside of him was full of fear.

Wait for what's coming next! This combination of two words are my favorite words whenever and wherever I see them:

"BUT GOD."

But God!!! That changes everything. Enter hope!!!

Listen to me, when you can't turn outside and you can't turn inside, you can always turn up. "But God, who comforts the depressed, comforted us." Hallelujah!

In the midst of your pain, when it seems there is nowhere to turn, there is. You can look up! There is ALWAYS hope. God longs to comfort the depressed. He longs to gather you under the "shadow of His wings."

I'm sorry you are going through deep waters. There are hurts I can't fathom. I don't know the answers, but I do know the Savior. I know He walks with you. I know He may be quiet, but His silence is not His absence. He will never leave you or forsake you. I know that whatever pain this time on earth holds, it is brief in the light of eternity. Your "hope is laid up in heaven." There is coming a day!

William Barclay wrote:

"I walked a mile with pleasure.

She chattered all the way.

But I was none the wiser

By all she had to say.

I walked a mile with sorrow

And ne'er a word said she.

But, oh, the things I learned from her

When sorrow walked with me."