How do we keep going when things are bad?
Just because we are saved children of God does not make us immune
from bouts of depression.
In Psalms 22 we
find David battling against depression.
“My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? Why art thou so far
from helping me, and form the words of my roaring? O my God, I cry in the
daytime, but thou hearest not; And in the night season, and am not silent….”
The footnotes of my study bible say this about the psalm,
"The anguished prayer of David as a godly sufferer victimized by the
vicious and prolonged attacks of enemies who he has not provoked and from whom
the Lord has not (yet) delivered him... No other psalm fitted quite so aptly
the circumstances of Jesus at His crucifixion."
It goes on to say that verses12-18 describe “the palmist’s deep
distress… he describes his inner sense of powerlessness under their fierce
attacks. The reference to his thirst (v. 15), the piercing of his hands and
feet (v. 16), and casting lots for his robe (v. 18) all point prophetically to
the crucifixion of Christ ten centuries later.”
Also of note, Jesus spoke the same words as he hung on the cross. “ELI,
ELI, LAMA, SABACHTHANI? that is to say, My God, my God, why has thou forsaken
me?”- Matt. 27:46 and Mark 15:34.
Salvation, faith, and trust in God does not relieve us of the
burdens of doubt and depression, just as it does not relieve us of our trials
and tribulations. We are going to have days like David had, it’s inevitable, as
we question and wonder where God is while we’re in our mess.
In Luke 10:38, we are introduced to Mary and Martha.
Martha, who was more concerned with physical things, wanting her
sister’s help in making the house ready during Jesus’ visit, then she was with
the actual visit. Mary, who was more concerned with spiritual things, eagerly
sitting at Jesus’ feet as she listen to Him speak.
From this description of each woman’s character, you would think
that when times got tough, it would be Mary who would stand fast and not
question Jesus’ actions.
John 11:11 tell us differently, as Mary and Martha’s summons for
Jesus’s aid for a sick Lazarus went unanswered, resulting in his death.
For moment, put yourself in Mary and Martha’s shoes. Just as David
did, and just as we do, they cried out for Jesus’ help during a dark time,
knowing He was the only one who could help them. How do we feel when our
prayers seem to go unanswered? Let down, forgotten, disheartened. Mary and
Martha were both feeling these things, as is evident in verses 20-32.
“Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and
met him: but Mary sat still in the house. Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if
thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. But I know that even now,
whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee.
Jesus said unto her, Thy brother shall rise again.
Martha saith unto Him, I know that he shall rise again in the
resurrection at the last day.
Jesus said unto her. I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though
he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall
never die. Believest thou this?
She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ,
the Son of God, which should come into the world.”
With these words Martha declares her faith.
“And when she had so said, she went her way, and called Mary her
sister secretly, saying, The Master is come, and calleth for thee.
As soon as she heard that, she arose quickly, and came unto him.
Now, Jesus was not yet come into the town, but was in that place
where Martha met him.
The Jews then which were with her in the house, and comforted her,
when tjhey saw Mary, that she rose up hastily and went out, followed her,
saying, She goeth unto the grace to weep there.
Then when Mary was come where Jesus was, and saw him, she fell
down at his feet, saying unto him, Lord if thou hadst been here, my brother had
not died.”
From what we already know of Mary, we would have figured that she
should have been able to better handle the trial she was facing with her
brother’s death. But even the most devoted can be sidetracked by depression,
pain, hurt, and loss.
“When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping
which came wth her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled,
And said, Where
have ye laid him? They say
unto him, Lord, come and see.
Jesus wept.”
What we all need to keep in mind is that, absolutely nothing
happens that Jesus is not involved in. He is with us during our highs and lows
and He will see us through.
How we deal with the depression and anxiety is key.
We can’t stay in that mode. We have to remember that we still
serve an amazing God. A God who cares, is still in control, and is just as much
by our side as he was in the lion’s den, Nebuchadnezzar’s fiery furnace, and
with Mary and Martha as they wept over the death of their brother Lazarus. A
God who will not be bound by deals and our promises.
We have to put our problems in Jesus’ hand, trust Him, and give Him
praise as David did in Psalm 23.
“The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie
down in green pasture: He leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my
soul: He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Yea,
though I walk through the calley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil:
for thou art with me; Thy rod and thy staff comfort me. Thou preparest a table
before me in the presence of mine enemies: Thou anointest my head with oil; my
cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my
life: And I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.”
