Tomahawk Missionary Baptist Church

Jack S Ward

Everyone gets depressed.  Even Biblical characters had depression.  Joseph, King David, Moses, Elijah, Paul and even our Lord Jesus Christ Himself.  Luke 13:34 "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not!"  John 6:66-67 ^"From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?"  What about the Garden prayer when He sweat drop of blood? lt was a tough life and they got down and out at times.

Where did they get help?  Well for one thing we are NOT told that Joseph or David, Elijah or Paul for example, ever needed deep emotional healing in the areas of identity and rejection. Instead they found their comfort and joy in the Lord, forgot themselves, and became God's channels of blessing to others.

And to those who say this is too harsh for the average Christian to
live up to, We have the promise of the Lord Himself to bear all of our burdens and to give us His comfort and strength.

The Scripture does not say, "Rejoice in the Lord, unless you are too depressed or have been rejected and need deep emotional healing to deal with it"! It says, "Rejoice in the Lord always... and the joy of the Lord is your strength"!
"And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him,
because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the Lord his God." -1 SAMUEL 30:6
"Who is among you that feareth the Lord...that walketh in darkness and hath no light? Let him trust in the name of the Lord, and stay upon his God." Isaiah 50:10

"In fierce storms," said an old seaman, "we can do but one thing, there is
only one way: We must put the ship in a certain position and keep her
there."

This, Christian, is what you must do. Sometimes, like Paul, you can see neither sun nor stars, and no small tempest lies on you; and then you can do but one thing; there is only one way. Reason cannot help you. Past
experiences give you no light. Even prayer fetches no consolation. Only a
single course is left: You must put your soul in one position and keep it
there. You must stay upon the Lord; come what may--winds, waves, cross seas, thunder, lightning, frowning rocks, roaring breakers--no matter what, you
must lash yourself to the helm, and hold fast your confidence in God's
faithfulness, His covenant engagement, His everlasting love in Christ Jesus.

Christian....quit focusing on YOU!  Christ is your life!  Christ is your purpose!  He is not building a stairway to nowhere in your life.  He is making everything in your life for your good and His eternal glory!