Am I Depressed? VI

Now that we’ve reviewed depression in God’s servants, along with ways they recovered, we ask “How can these stories can help me?”

1. One lesson is that a period of depression is not that unusual in the life of a faithful servant of God. Just because we love God, and follow and serve Christ, doesn’t prevent us from the experience of feeling discouraged, depressed, or despair. This should relieve us from the guilt and shame Christians often heap upon one another, and on themselves, for getting “down in the dumps.” The common cold of depression  spread among God’s people in the Old and New Testaments as well as among people today.

2. While depression is a common experience, God cares about healing. Whether it’s depression for extraordinary loss (Job), or because of people’s rejection of their message (Elijah, Jeremiah, Paul), or from frustration in meeting our personal agenda (Jonah), God intervenes to heal his faithful servants. If you’re depressed and withdrawn, God also wants to bring you healing.

3. God’s attitude seems never to have been harsh or cruel. Instead he gently directs some pointed question to his servants. He helps expose the source of their difficulty, then enables them to overcome their depression.  If you’re depressed, know he also loves you. He wants you back into his fruitful service, too.

If your depression persists, be sure to talk with your doctor, pastor, or counselor. God also uses human instruments of compassion to heal.

About Grose

Gordon Grose loves most to write, speak, and preach on the message of hope from the book of Job. Using drama, video, and PowerPoint, he has preached and presented this message of hope to churches around the country. Grose pastored three congregations 25 years, then served 12 years as a pastoral counselor in a Portland, Oregon counseling clinic. He now serves with Good Samaritan Counseling Services, Beaverton, OR. A graduate of Wheaton College (IL), Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, Brandeis University, and Boston University, he comes from a rich and varied background in theological and counseling training. In 2015, Gordon published Tragedy Transformed: How Job's Recovery Can Provide Hope For Yours, a book about turning to Job for hope after tragedy. If you have experienced life challenges or personal tragedy, visit his Transforming Tragedy (gordongrose.com) blog to learn more. TragedyTransformed.com provides a sample of Gordon's speaking as well as an opportunity to purchase copies of his book.
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