God’s Remedy For Depression

THU, 1 AUG 2019

‘Why, my soul, are you downcast?’ Psalm 43:5 NIV

According to the Counselling Directory, one in 10 people are affected by depression at some point in their lives, with up to 10 times more people suffering from depression now than in 1945. And most of them won’t reach for assistance because they believe depression is a personal weakness.

Now, let’s make an important distinction here. If you’re clinically depressed it could be due to a chemical imbalance in your body, and a doctor can help you. But the Bible can help. If you’re feeling sad or hopeless, it provides wisdom on how to recover. Your situation won’t be solved with a few clichés or a good pick-me-up lecture from a friend. What you need is ‘the wisdom that is from above.’ (James 3:17 KJV) After calling down fire from heaven, Elijah ‘sat down… and prayed that he might die.’ (1 Kings 19:4 NKJV)

Fortunately, he turned to the right source. ‘All at once an angel touched him and said, “Get up.”’ (1 Kings 19:5 NIV) Now, God may not send you an angel, but He will answer you, lift and restore you.

The psalmist said: ‘Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my Saviour and my God.’ Who is David talking to? Himself! First, he talked to God about his problem; that’s what you do in prayer. Next, he listened to God about his problem; that’s what you do when you read the Scriptures and speak them over your life. That strategy works. It worked for David—and it will work for you too.