Plowing Through Depression

When you first gave your heart to the Lord, did you believe the joy of your new love would last forever? Perhaps giddiness kept your mouth in a perpetual smile and caused you to act like a fool. Trials and suffering is the last thing on a lover’s mind when they are soaring on the wings of romance. Their thoughts circle around their attraction, emotions and hope of partnership for life. However, as all couples can attest, there comes a time when the fluttering of unfamiliar hearts settles into a calm of familiarity.

The passion of new beginnings can lead one to believe they would suffer the cross for one another with joy. Yet, often the routine of life in each other’s arms dampens our burning desire to suffer for love. Sometimes, we get too comfortable in our position and vows are forgotten: “for better or worse, for richer or poorer” become meaningless banter. Tragically, too many abandon love at the bottom of the hill, unwilling to carry a burden for the ones they love.

While some walk away and give up the experience of transformation, others remain on the cross of despair. They buy into the lie that Christians must suffer and they endure the nails in their hands and feet. Yet, their thoughts remain on Golgotha and they never move to Sunday morning. They allow the weight of the cross to oppress them rather than tap into the power of the resurrected Christ. This soul cries of loving sacrifice but never sings the song of GLORY!

Oswald states the obvious; “If we were never depressed, we would not be alive—only material things don’t suffer depression.” For we know life is not all hugs and kisses. Nonetheless, it is imperative for believers to remember in our times of pain and trial that we have an overcoming Spirit in Christ. This power-- within every believer-- has the ability to take what becomes normal, stale, even oppressed and breathe new life into it. For at the end of every winter is the regeneration of spring.

Still, the crop will not sow itself. The farmer must take the “initiative” to till the soil, plant the seed and so forth. The farmer rises before the sun, not because he wants to, but because it must be done. His daily chores are done with the hope of a rich harvest. The hope plays an important part in the life of a farmer. For their days in the sun are long. Without the hope of harvest, it would be senseless for them to endure the hardships of farming. What would inspire their hand to take hold of the plow?

When we face heartbreak and loss, though our very soul is pierced, we must not remain in the valley. The twenty-third Psalm says; “though I walk through the valley of death…” (NIV). God cares about and is sensitive to our pain. Yet, there is no glory for God in the pit. Therefore, though our spiritual muscles burn and our hands may be covered with blisters, we must rise to our work. We are responsible to labor and to trust. God is responsible for the rest. In the words of Charles Stanley; “Obey God and leave all the consequences to Him.”

We can become depressed when life doesn’t “grow” our way. Storms come and wipe out seasons of work and dreams. Often, more than profits are lost. When we don’t trust God is in control, or that He will see us through, we can become depressed.

Oswald shares how God’s prophet Elijah despaired over the threats of Jezebel. God sent a message to the depressed messenger… “Arise and eat” (1 Kings 19:5). God did not remove the wicked woman from the scene (yet), nor did He reveal to Elijah a vision of how things would play out. God merely told him to continue in life. Thus, the prophet had a choice. He could remain hiding, bound in fear, doubting God’s power and plan and destroy his testimony of the love and omnipotence of Almighty God. Or he could…”rise and eat”…trust God, obey God and glorify the Lord with his faith and work.

We don’t need to be visited by angels to break free from depression. We have the Holy Spirit of God within us. Therefore, as children of God, we can overcome the tombs of darkness and death. We must heed the voice of the Spirit which instructs us—at the appropriate time--to rise from the pit and eat. For just as Jesus, rose from the grave and ate once again with his disciples, so too can the child of God. How marvelous is the harvest! Oh, that we may sow love and reap great joy!

“Taste and see that the Lord is good.” (Psalm 34:8 NIV)