Elijah knew the pain and disillusionment of Depression. In 1st Kings, Chapter 19 he has just experienced a great victory, and then, confusingly, he runs away in fear. We see him sitting by a brook feeling sorry for himself. He figuratively or literally shakes his finger at God and says, “Take my life from me. Nobody knows the troubles I’ve seen” and “I am the last righteous man in Israel.” Immediately God corrects him, and encourages him that there are many who have not bowed down to Baal. The lingering effects of Depression often follow a great accomplishment. In Elijah’s case we are witnessing Circumstantial Depression since he is in fear for his life, and that sort of Depression brought on by his own internal mindset. Something I call Faulty Thinking.
Then we have Job; Depression Incarnate. Hardly ever a man
suffered like this man. The loss of his children, the alienation of his wife,
the theft of his possessions, the destruction of his body, the clutter of his
mind, the evil intervention of Lucifer, himself. Again we see duelistic factors
contributing to the horrendous emotions of a godly man. And we follow Job
through 42 chapters of some of the most depressing verbage ever written. But in
all of it he refused to curse God, and said in one place, “Though He slay me
yet will I trust in Him!” (Job 13:15)
Then again, we see Jesus, very man and very God, as He
enters into a garden, just prior to his crucifixion. Scripture tells us that He
was troubled and distressed, and He sweat what appeared to be great drops of
blood. His words transfix us. “My soul is very sorrowful, even to the point of
death. Please let me avoid this part in Your plan.” (Mark 14) The environmental
influences surrounding Him correlated with His emotional responses. He was preparing to take on
the physical pain of execution and the emotional pain of our sin.
And who can forget the two unnamed disciples traveling to
Emmaus. (Luke 24) Loss beyond losses. Their Lord has been crucified and buried,
and all hope seems lost. Their words betray Depression generated by the most
negative of circumstances. “But we had hoped…” The past tense word “had” says
it all. Again, Faulty Mindsets leading to the most negative of emotions.
Sometimes correct information is all that is needed. For their morose attitudes
were changed in a moment. For “their eyes were opened,” and they recognized
their living Lord.
Finally, at least in terms of these human examples, consider
my favorite Apostle; Paul. He who every reason and right to be Depressed, but
one who fought it tooth and nail. For even in the Caesar’s prison he is found
to say, “You should be glad and you should rejoice even as I do” and “I have
suffered the loss of all things and count them all but loss that I may gain
Christ.” (Phil. Chap. 2 & 3) Our brother Paul realized that his life was a
loss worth losing in the grand scheme of things. He defeated Depression in
terms of the comparative mindset that the Eternal awaited him just beyond the
prison’s threshold.
TREATMENT AND INTERVENING FOR THE DEPRESSED
Treatment for Depression tends to be singular in nature.
Once we begin to pull together pat answers or generic remedies, we discover our
limitations. That is, what may benefit one, may seem all but useless to
another. Therefore, it is crucial to discover the intervention or combination
of interventions that tend to alleviate Depression in a particular individual.
One effective possibility is to ask ourselves, “What have I tried in the past?”
or “What has worked for me that might work for me again?”
There’s a few phrases which characterize what it takes to
leave troubled emotions and moods behind.
“If you want something you’ve never had you may have to do
something you’ve never done.”
And
“Why do you keep on doing the same things you’ve always done
and expect different results?”
And
“Change is only possible when the pain is perceived as
greater than the required action.”
And
I’m convinced that treatment begins with a Decision to get
better. I have never known anyone who exhibited chronic Depression who got
better ‘til they made a purposeful decision to do so.
I will quickly add… certain physical and emotional maladies
challenge the chronically sick on a daily basis, and Depression, Hopelessness
and Despair may come and go often. But I think God still holds us accountable
to take positive action steps to help alleviate our pain.
To be continued...
(By William McDonald, PhD. Excerpt from "Wednesday Night Teachings" Vol. 1. Material also presented in the form of a seminar)
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