Overcoming
Despondency
There is an old legend that said the Devil once decided to go out of business; -- (don't ever believe that; -- its just a legend) -- so the Devil offered to sell his tools of the trade. They were attractively displayed: -- trickery -- hatred -- jealousy -- deceit -- malice -- sensuality -- & many other evil tools -- each marked with a price. -- But in the center was a wedge-shaped -- much worn tool -- priced higher than all the others. When asked: "What is that?" -- Satan replied saying -- "That is the tool of Discouragement." And when asked -- "But why is it so costly?" -- he replied -- "Because it can do my evil work better than all the other tools. -- With it I can make the lives of many folk of no value. -- I can make them just lie down & 'give up' -- & become useless -- & they don't even know I am the one who uses it."
C.S. Lewis once said: -- "If Satan's arsenal of weapons were restricted to a single one -- it would be discouragement."
Discouragement -- despondency -- depression -- has rapidly become a major problem in our present day society. It is reported that there are 2000 suicides a day around the world -- & many of these are caused by discouragement -- or depression. Each year -- more then four million people in the United States need special medical attention because of severe depression; -- not only among adults -- but even among teenagers & children.
In the years of my pastoral ministry -- I have observed that even Christians are not immune to this affliction. In fact I've discovered that discouragement is one of the occupational hazards of ministry -- & I have come to realize that my very personality is at times bent toward depression. -- So I speak to myself, today! The enemy of our soul -- wants to discourage us in every way possible. The fact that we Christians live in a hostile world does not make the situation easier.
Often -- discouraged Christians add to their problems by feeling guilty because they are depressed. But my friends -- we need to remember that even great men of God -- like Moses -- & Elijah -- & Jeremiah -- had times of discouragement & seeming defeat. One thing is certain: -- As Christians, we have Divine resources available to us that the world does not have -- nor can they even understand. When unsaved people are discouraged or depressed -- they often resort to various means of escape: -- drugs, alcohol, entertainment -- but then they discover they have not really escaped themselves. When the show is over -- or the "high" is ended -- they are worse off than before. -- Their so-called "escape" only forges another link in the chains that imprison them.
Let me ask you: -- Are you sailing over rough seas? -- Are you struggling with doubts & fears? -- Are you discouraged & despondent? Then allow me to direct your attention to a couple Psalms found in the Word of God! -- Psalm 42 & Psalm 43. All who need a cure for despondency can find it here in these two short, but wonderful Psalms. There is virtually unanimous opinion among Bible scholars that originally Psalms 42 & 43 -- were in fact one poem -- & so we will consider them as a single production.
We really do not know for sure who wrote these two very personal psalms -- but whoever he was -- he was certainly discouraged! Notice that three times -- in this song of lament -- we find the identical words: -- "Why art thou cast down, O my soul? & why art thou disquieted within me?" We discover that question in the middle of Psalm 42 in vr. 5; -- again at the end of Psalm 42 in vr. 11; -- & also at the end of Psalm 43 in vr. 5. "Why art thou cast down, O my soul? & why art thou disquieted within me?" His world has fallen apart -- & he is wondering where God is. He was wondering if he would ever get out of the dark pit of depression.
It really makes little difference who wrote these Psalms -- or what his personal situation is. -- What is important -- is that the Psalms help point the way to victory over discouragement & depression.
Out of his own experience -- the Psalmist says to us -- "If you want to overcome your despondency -- then you must make some radical changes in your outlook on life." There are three important truths we will discover in these Psalms: --
1. Stop Looking at Yourself -- & Start
Looking at God!
A careful reading will reveal that there are over 50 personal pronouns in these two Psalms. -- The Psalmist uses the personal pronouns "I" -- "me" -- or "my" -- a total of 51 times. On the other hand -- he only mentions "God" 20 times -- & once he mentions "the Lord." We get the impression that life was a mirror -- & the writer was looking only at himself!
Certainly there are various causes for depression.
To be sure -- depression sometimes has a physical cause.
If we are not careful -- poor health habits or even exhaustion -- can lead us into depression. Sometimes depression is the result of the attack of Satan. Satan is the accuser & the destroyer -- & he likes to remind us of our failures & our past sins. Some depression has a psychological cause -- & what we need is a competent Christian counselor to help us with personality weaknesses.
I will not try to be either a doctor or a psychologist; -- I will simply be a pastor! -- so I want to approach this from a spiritual point of view -- for the only lasting solution is from the Lord God, Himself. While there are various causes for depression -- the number one cause for depression is selfishness. At least this is what we see illustrated in the experience of this Psalmist.
For one thing -- he was discouraged because his plans were not being fulfilled. -- He wanted to join the others in their annual trip to the temple -- but he could not go; -- so he asks in verse 2: -- "When can I come & stand before God?" In verse 4 -- the Psalmist is saying: "My heart is breaking as I remember how it used to be: -- I walked among the crowds of worshipers, leading a great procession to the house of God, -- singing for joy & giving thanks -- it was the sound of a great celebration" (NLT).
When you have eagerly anticipated some upcoming event -- & have had to change your plans -- this can be very discouraging! However -- who are we that God should always work things out just to please our selfish wishes?
The Psalmist was so disappointed that he says in verse 3 -- "Day & night, I have only tears for food -- while my enemies continually taunt me saying 'Where is this God of yours?'" (NLT). No body was sympathizing with him! -- now that's discouraging! Furthermore -- his questions were not being answered. -- Listen to him -- "When can I come & stand before God? -- Why am I discouraged? -- Why so sad? -- Why have you tossed me aside? -- Why must I wander around in darkness?" Ten times the Psalmist asked "Why?" -- & we have no record that God ever gave him an answer!
It is easy to see that self lies at the heart of his complaint. He wants his plans to be fulfilled; -- his feelings improved; -- his questions answered. He is so busy looking at himself that he forgets to look at God!
The Prophet Elijah made the same
mistake when he fled from Jezebel.
Elijah thought that the victory on
While there are times when we need to examine our heart -- it is a dangerous thing to look at yourself too much! One evidence of this selfish pride -- or proud selfishness -- is that we see ourselves no matter where we look. This explains why a change in circumstances cannot of itself cure depression; -- we take our hearts with us!
Notice the Psalmist: -- he saw a deer drinking at the brook-- & was reminded of his own yearning for God ( 42:1). He saw & heard the falling waters of the river -- & thought only of his own deep desires (42:7). Even nature's beauty fails to give peace to the troubled heart -- if we are thinking only of ourselves -- & not of God! When our Lord Jesus looked at nature -- He saw the Heavenly Father's love & care! Jesus said "Look at the birds" -- for the Father cares for the birds -- even the little sparrows that fall! -- "Look at the flowers." (Matt. 6:26-34). The world of nature was a window through which Jesus saw the Heavenly Father!
Because we are human -- it is natural for us to think mainly of ourselves. We must constantly remind ourselves to walk by faith -- & to look to God! We can pray to God -- & He will give us a song -- even in the night of disappointment!
The most important thing about any difficult experience is not that we get out of it -- but what we get out of it! If we are truly thirsting after God -- & not our own selfish desires -- then the disappointments that could tear us down -- will actually build us up! Life will not be a mirror in which we see only ourselves; -- life will be a window through which we see God!
My friends -- self-pity is one of the most dangerous attitudes you & I can ever cultivate. It poisons our system so that nothing looks right; -- everything people say & do gets out of proportion. Ask the Lord to give you strength to fight self-pity! And stop looking at yourself -- & start looking at God!
2. Stop Looking at the Past -- & Start
Looking at the Future!
There is an interesting trend in
There is a right way & a
wrong way to use the past! Moses
encouraged
Satan wants to use the past to drag us down & defeat us!
God wants to use the past only as a tool to build us up by His grace.
So we either look to the past -- or we look to the future with Hope!
That is why at the end of each section -- the Psalmist uses the refrain: -- "Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior & my God" (NIV). -- He does it in verse 5; -- & again in verse 11; -- & once more at the end of Psalm 43:5. After crying out & asking: -- "Why am I discouraged? -- Why so sad?" -- he says, "I will put my hope in God!" (NLT).
Someone penned these words: --
Yesterday God helped me;
Today He'll do the same.
How long will this continue?
Forever, -- Praise His name!
So the answer to depression is hope! That's why the Psalmist repeatedly says: -- "Hope in God!"
But not everyone can look to the future with hope!
The future looks bleak & dreary for those who are without God!
The unsaved have a dread for the future -- for they are without hope.
Paul writes: "You lived in this world without God & without hope" (Eph 2:12).
But Christians have a living hope -- because Christ "has given us new birth into a living hope ... & an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade -- kept in heaven for you" (1 Peter 1:3-4 NIV).
Four times in these two psalms -- the writer says that he is "cast down" -- but this need not mean that his eyes are downcast! -- He can look to the future with hope because of his faith in God -- & we can too! My friends -- why go around mourning when God is with us to be our strength & our stronghold? God may not change our circumstances -- nor even deliver us from them -- but He will enable us to face them -- & be adequate for them. That great preacher, Phillips Brooks admonished: -- "O do not pray for easy lives; -- pray to be stronger... Do not pray for tasks equal to your powers; -- pray for powers equal to your tasks" (Visions & Tasks, p. 330).
There is a famous painting by G.F. Watt -- that is entitled "Hope." It is the scene of a woman who has had to battle a hard life. She is pictured as beaten & worn; -- she is holding a harp on which all the strings are broken except for one. That one string is called the string of hope! -- She is shown striking that one string -- & as she does so -- the music of hope fills her world. In the midst of her struggle -- she has found the string of hope -- & that has made her life worth living! For every person the music of hope is found in Jesus Christ! If I were to ask you -- 'Where is your hope today?' -- what would you reply? Is your hope in your religion -- your good deeds -- your career -- your health -- your money? -- Or is your hope in the living God -- & the power found in His eternal salvation? The greatest issue of the heart & life -- is the answer to that question! My friend -- if you are discouraged today -- there is hope in Jesus Christ; -- hope that is never lost as you walk hand in hand with the Savior! So stop looking at the past -- & start looking at the future with hope!
3. Stop Searching for Reasons -- & Start
Resting on Promises!
My friends -- feel free to tell the Lord all about the hurt you feel deep down on the inside of your heart! That is what the Psalmist is doing in these two wonderful Psalms! He tells the Lord how much he hurts -- how disappointed he is in the way things are going. He honestly unburdened his feelings -- his doubts -- & his complaints. Instead of nursing his hurts -- he gives his heart to the great Physician!
There are at least 13 questions asked in these two Psalms. The Psalmist asks -- "Why?" ten times -- & "Why?" is not an easy question to answer! -- If you have raised children -- you know that!
But it is normal for us to ask questions when we are hurting -- or when we are going through perplexing experiences. It is not wrong to ask questions of God -- but it is wrong to question God!
As we read these Psalms -- we sense that the writer is getting impatient. Have you ever gotten impatient with God? -- I have! He is asking: -- "Where is God? -- Why doesn't He do something? -- When will He start to work?" It appears that everything is against the Psalmist; -- as he says in verse 7 -- "Deep calls to deep in the roar of your waterfalls; -- all your waves & breakers have swept over me" (NIV).
Suppose God had answered all his questions; -- would that have solved any problems -- & made him feel any better? -- Probably not! It is a basic fact of life that we do not live on explanations; -- we live on promises! For example -- if you were to fall down & break a leg -- you would be taken to the hospital -- & they would x-ray the leg & study the break. On the basis of that study -- the doctor would make a decision. If the doctor came into your room with the x-rays -- & carefully explained how the bone was broken -- & what he would do to repair it -- would that make you feel any better? -- Probably not. But if the doctor said: -- "I will set & cast it -- & you can be out of the cast & walking again in eight weeks!" -- now that would encourage you. You see -- we live on promises -- & not on explanations.
An explanation may satisfy the curiosity of the mind -- but only a promise can heal the hurt in the heart -- & give strength to the will! The Psalmist had looked around at nature & seen only himself. Why? -- Because he was looking for explanations. In his pride & self-pity -- he was demanding that God give reasons for what God was doing. Had the Psalmist looked at nature & watched for assurances of God's promises -- he would have found medicine for his aching heart.
My friends -- walk by faith in the promises of God; -- not by sight -- nor by explanations. -- The promises of God are great & wonderful! So stop searching for reasons -- & start resting on the promises of God!
Conclusion: -- We
have not yet answered the question that the Psalmist asked three times: --
"Why art thou cast down,
O my soul? -- And why art thou disquieted within me?"
Why are we cast down? -- We are cast down because we want to be!
Understand that I make that statement only to a Christian who faces the usual kind of discouragement -- & not to a person who suffers chronic depression that may require professional help. Some chronic depression has very deep roots -- & needs special treatment; -- but even then, the spiritual resources through Christ can help hasten healing.
My friends -- if we will only lay hold of the spiritual resources God makes available to us -- we can overcome despondency -- & we will come through triumphantly -- glorifying God.
If ever anyone had reason to be discouraged -- it was
Jesus Christ -- through His
"baptism of suffering" on the Cross.
The devil was constantly opposing Him -- & even His own followers
deserted Him. At
So when the outlook is grim -- try the uplook! In the words of the Psalmist -- "Put your hope in God, for I will praise him, my Savior & my God" (NIV).
Pastor Lyle Pettit -- Wynne Chapel -- Cochise, AZ
www.wynnechapel.org