Looking to God in Times of Depression

Looking to God In Times of Depression
Psalm 42

Many times, we get down and depressed. What are we to do when we get depressed? Many people turn to drugs and alcohol which will only give temporary relief and is a “false” comforter. Instead of turning to a “false” comforter, let us turn our eyes upward to our “true” comforter who is God. He is our only hope. He is the only One who can help us and lift us up from despondency.

Here are some George Müller quotes on how he handled trials:

"Truly I prefer by far this life of almost constant trial, if I am only able to roll all my cares upon my Heavenly Father, and thus become increasingly acquainted with Him, to a life of outward peace and quietness, without these constant proofs of His faithfulness." - George Müller

"Do but stand still in the hour of trial, and you will see the help of God, if you trust in Him. But there is so often a forsaking the ways of the Lord in the hour of trial, and thus the food of faith, the means whereby our faith may be increased, is lost." - George Müller

"Wherever God has given faith, it is given, among other reasons, for the very purpose of being tried." - George Müller

Here are ten things to remember when you are depressed and going through trials:

10 Things to Remember when Depressed
 
1. Remember God
 
“O my God, my soul is cast down within me; therefore I will remember You from the land of the Jordan, and from the heights of Hermon, from the Hill Mizar” (Psalm 42:6).

“When my soul fainted within me, I remembered the Lord; and my prayer went up to You, into Your holy temple” (Jonah 2:7).

“Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; for I shall yet praise Him, the help of my countenance and my God” (Psalm 42:11).
 
2. Cast All Your Cares Upon Him
 
“Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7).

“Cast your burden on the Lord, and He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved” (Psalm 55:22).
 
3. Wait on the Lord
 
“Wait on the Lord; Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the Lord!” (Psalm 27:14).
 
“Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart, all you who hope in the Lord” (Psalm 31:24).
 
4. Don’t be Anxious but Pray
 
“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:6-7).

“Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray…” (James 5:13).
 
5. Keep your mind on God

“You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You” (Isaiah 26:3).

“Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” (Psalm 46:10).
 
6. The Lord will never leave you nor forsake you
 
Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” So we may boldly say: “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?” (Heb. 13:5-6).

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written: “For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.” Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Rom. 8:35-39).
 
7. Look to Jesus our compassionate and Great High Priest
 
“Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Heb. 4:14-16).

“Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them” (Heb. 7:25).

“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light” (Matt. 11:28-30).
 
8. Rejoice in Trials & Afflictions. God has a purpose behind them.
 
“My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing” (James 1:2-4).

“Rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer” (Rom. 12:12).

“And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us” (Rom. 5:3-5).

“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose” (Rom. 8:28).

“It is good for me that I have been afflicted, That I may learn Your statutes” (Psalm 119:71).
 
9. Abide in His Word
 
“Remember the word to Your servant, upon which You have caused me to hope. This is my comfort in my affliction, for Your word has given me life” (Psalm 119:49-50).

“You are my hiding place and my shield; I hope in Your word” (Psalm 119:114).

“I rise before the dawning of the morning, and cry for help; I hope in Your word” (Psalm 119:147).

“I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in His word I do hope. My soul waits for the Lord more than those who watch for the morning— Yes, more than those who watch for the morning” (Psalm 130:5-6).

“Before I was afflicted I went astray, But now I keep Your word” (Psalm 119:67).
 
10. God will give you His perfect peace; comfort, and grace to go through all your trials. Remember afflictions are only temporary. Look forward for the new heavens and the new earth.

“Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (John 14:27).

“These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God” (2 Cor. 1:3-4).

“No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it” (1 Cor. 10:13).

“Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal” (2 Cor. 4:16-18).

“And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away” (Rev. 21:4).

​O soul, are you weary and troubled?
No light in the darkness you see?
There’s light for a look at the Savior,
And life more abundant and free!
Refrain:
 
Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace.
 
Through death into life everlasting
He passed, and we follow Him there;
O’er us sin no more hath dominion--
For more than conqu’rors we are!
 
His Word shall not fail you—He promised;
Believe Him, and all will be well:
Then go to a world that is dying,
His perfect salvation to tell!

By the editor of www.georgemuller.org