It sounds like an oxymoron. How could anything good come out of depression? But depression was a real tool for the saints before us. Read the Psalms of a victorious, downcast king David. Study the account of a blameless and upright Job, stripped of all wealth, health, and progeny. What of the innocent younger brother Joseph? or Jonah? Elijah? even Christ—a Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief?
Charles Spurgeon, known as ‘the prince of preachers,’ in 1875 spoke openly to congregants about his battle with depression. “I am quite out of order addressing you tonight. I feel extremely unwell, excessively heavy, and exceedingly depressed.” Yet, he would say, “I am afraid that all the grace I have got of my comfortable and easy times and happy hours might almost lie on a penny. But the good I have received from my sorrows and pains and griefs is altogether incalculable. Affliction is . . . the best book in a minister’s library.” How could one claim such a thing? Jesus. “Our way of fighting is to hide behind Jesus, who fights for us.” (emphasis mine) said Spurgeon.
Depression, like all forms of suffering, is for refining. The devil would have us believe it for our demise. Yet, how else could we be conformed to the image of the Son of God. “For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps.” (1 Peter 2:21) The Messiah, who could accomplished nothing apart from His Father, is our victorious example.
“Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep Your word.” (Psalm 119:67)
Where would I gain compassion for the anxious without walking through paralyzing panic? How does a grieving mother endure without one who has buried her own? When we come to the end of all earthly comforts, we have been given a gift to become one with One God who knelt in the Garden of Gethsemane.
It sounds like an oxymoron. How could anything good come out of depression? But depression was a real tool for the saints before us. Read the Psalms of a victorious, downcast king David. Study the account of a blameless and upright Job, stripped of all wealth, health, and progeny. What of the innocent younger brother Joseph? or Jonah? Elijah? even Christ—a Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief?
Charles Spurgeon, known as ‘the prince of preachers,’ in 1875 spoke openly to congregants about his battle with depression. “I am quite out of order addressing you tonight. I feel extremely unwell, excessively heavy, and exceedingly depressed.” Yet, he would say, “I am afraid that all the grace I have got of my comfortable and easy times and happy hours might almost lie on a penny. But the good I have received from my sorrows and pains and griefs is altogether incalculable. Affliction is . . . the best book in a minister’s library.” How could one claim such a thing? Jesus. “Our way of fighting is to hide behind Jesus, who fights for us.” (emphasis mine) said Spurgeon.
Depression, like all forms of suffering, is for refining. The devil would have us believe it for our demise. Yet, how else could we be conformed to the image of the Son of God. “For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps.” (1 Peter 2:21) The Messiah, who could accomplished nothing apart from His Father, is our victorious example.
“Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep Your word.” (Psalm 119:67)
Where would I gain compassion for the anxious without walking through paralyzing panic? How does a grieving mother endure without one who has buried her own? When we come to the end of all earthly comforts, we have been given a gift to become one with One God who knelt in the Garden of Gethsemane.
