How To Turn Depression into Delight - Christian Perspectives

Have you ever been down and out, thinking nothing will ever go your way again? Yea, I’ve been there. Maybe you have even fought at times with depression. In Psalm 13, David was experiencing a bout with it. Fortunately, he turned his depression into delight.

O Lord, how long will you forget me? Forever? How long will you look the other way? Lord, how long must I struggle with anguish in my soul, with sorrow in my heart every day? How long will my enemy have the upper hand? Turn and answer me, O Lord my God! Restore the sparkle to my eyes, or I will die.  Psalm 13:1-3

One time I was talking with a person who was really down in the dumps. Things weren’t going well for him at all. His family life was in shambles, things at his job weren’t going so well, and he was broke.

He was convinced that God didn’t love him and He didn’t care about him. In his opinion, God had forgotten all about him. What do you say to such a person? Each of the circumstances he found himself in were self-inflicted

His family problems were caused by him. It was he who had created the troubles at his job. And his financial woes were caused by bad money management. And the worst part was he pinned the whole thing on God.

Now I understand that not all of our problems are self-inflicted. What I also understand though is this. No matter how good or bad life gets, God cares and He won’t turn his back on us.

David’s Delight Replaced His Depression

David was at a point in his life where he was blaming God for his woes. He had lost the sparkle that was in his eyes. He assumed that God didn’t even want to look at him. Amid his depression, I did notice this one thing. He was still speaking to God.

I’ve met with people who thought that God had given up on them completely. So they gave up on Him, even though some of them had wonderful spiritual experiences. They chose to abandon God altogether. No matter what I said, they had their minds made up.

David, however, changed his tune because he knew God and knew that He would never abandon him. Look at what he says at the end of the chapter.

But I trust in your unfailing love. I will rejoice because you have rescued me. I will sing to the Lord because he is good to me. Psalm 13:5-6

I love how the Message Bible translated verse 5. I’ve thrown myself headlong into your arms. Why did he do that? Because he remembered that God had rescued him before.

We all have moments and even days when we wonder where God is or if He hears our prayers. Sometimes we must do what David did. Remind ourselves when God came through for us in the past. Then throw yourself headlong into His arms.

Look at how the Message Bible ended this Psalm. I’m celebrating your rescue. I’m singing at the top of my lungs, I’m so full of answered prayers. Psalm 13:5-6

Fill your lungs with praise because God Loves You!

Lord, bring new life to people who think you don’t care. When we are down and out, remind us of how you have taken care of us in the past. Help us to turn our depression into delight.

Here is a related post on how much God loves us called Just Turn and Look, For God’s Love Is There.

You can read this short Psalm here.

Featured Image Photo by Anh Nguyen on Unsplash

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