Lesson 7 for February 12, 2011

What does a depressed person think about... himself? He/she feels useless and unworthy this world? He/she sees it in a pessimistic way; he/she thinks that everything is corrupted and there is nothing good the future? He/she has no hope and thinks that nothing will get better When those thoughts assail us, what should we think about... himself? We are divine creation and Christ died for us. We are immensely valuable for God and He loves us this world? We understand evil exists because sin exists. Despite that, good things happen in this world the future? God will create a new heaven and a new earth where we will live free from sin and death

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF DEPRESSION?  Crying for no apparent cause.  Lengthy silences.  Thinking and making decisions with difficulty and lack of memory.  Low working performance.  Alteration in appetite and weight loss or increase.  Lack of motivation to perform any activity.  Excessive guilt.  Suicidal thoughts.  Unjustified tiredness and fatigue, especially in the morning.  Great sadness.  Sleep disorders. Not everyone has the same symptoms.

There are many characters who suffered depression in the Bible. What thoughts and symptoms of depression can you find in the next texts?  David’s words, when he was a fugitive and had to look for shelter in the rocks and caves of the desert. He was far from the house of God, where he had enjoyed taking part in the sacred services “ As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God? My tears have been my food day and night, while men say to me all day long, "Where is your God?" These things I remember as I pour out my soul: how I used to go with the multitude, leading the procession to the house of God, with shouts of joy and thanksgiving among the festive throng. Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Saviour and my God. My soul is downcast within me; therefore I will remember you from the land of the Jordan, the heights of Hermon--from Mount Mizar. Deep calls to deep in the roar of your waterfalls; all your waves and breakers have swept over me. By day the Lord directs his love, at night his song is with me--a prayer to the God of my life. I say to God my Rock, "Why have you forgotten me? Why must I go about mourning, oppressed by the enemy?" My bones suffer mortal agony as my foes taunt me, saying to me all day long, "Where is your God?" Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Saviour and my God” (Psalm 42: 1-11)

“I said, "In the prime of my life I shall go to the gates of Sheol; I am deprived of the remainder of my years." I said, "I shall not see YAH, The Lord in the land of the living; I shall observe man no more among the inhabitants of the world. My life span is gone, Taken from me like a shepherd's tent; I have cut off my life like a weaver. He cuts me off from the loom; From day until night You make an end of me. I have considered until morning-- Like a lion, So He breaks all my bones; From day until night You make an end of me. Like a crane or a swallow, so I chattered; I mourned like a dove; My eyes fail from looking upward. O LORD, I am oppressed; Undertake for me! "What shall I say? He has both spoken to me, And He Himself has done it. I shall walk carefully all my years In the bitterness of my soul."” (Isaiah, 38: 10-15)  Hezekiah’s words, when an illness was carrying him to death:

 Asaph’s words, trying to express how his soul longed for understanding why God had apparently abandoned him; he was then trying to find a way to get out of darkness: “In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord; My hand was stretched out in the night without ceasing; My soul refused to be comforted. I remembered God, and was troubled; I complained, and my spirit was overwhelmed. You hold my eyelids open; I am so troubled that I cannot speak. I have considered the days of old, The years of ancient times. I call to remembrance my song in the night; I meditate within my heart, And my spirit makes diligent search. Will the Lord cast off forever? And will He be favourable no more? Has His mercy ceased forever? Has His promise failed forevermore? Has God forgotten to be gracious? Has He in anger shut up His tender mercies? And I said, "This is my anguish; But I will remember the years of the right hand of the Most High."” (Psalm 77: 2-10)

 Elijah’s words, when he was fleeing from Jezebel to save his life. “He himself went a day's journey into the desert. He came to a broom tree, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. "I have had enough, Lord," he said. "Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors."” (1 Kings, 19: 4)

Don’t blame him/her for that depression; don’t think that he/she is not a true believer (or that he/she is far from God) just because he/she is depressed. Let’s remember Jesus’ words: “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way as you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you” (Matthew, 7: 1-2) Listen him/her and be understanding. Help him/her to not to renounce his/her faith and stick to biblical promises.

1.Praying. Don’t forget that we have the Therapist who will always listen to us, no matter when. 2.Talking. It may be to a friend, to a brother or to a therapist. 3.Mixing with others. Church is a good place to relieve our depression by fraternizing with our brothers and sisters. 4.Helping others. We keep our thought about ourselves away by helping others.

We must turn to a professional when depression has a physical cause (or example, the lack of a mineral) We must ask and accept divine forgiveness when depression is caused by a sin. God has the solution for you, no matter which is the cause of your depression. Just devote yourself to God and seek his mercy, grace and health.

E.G.W. (Mind, character and personality, vol. 2, cp. 58 pp. 242, 243).