Read Depression: Looking Up from the Stubborn Darkness for Free Online

might feel as if you are going through the motions, but you say the prayers and read the Scripture because the words are true. God hears them, and he is pleased that you are crying out to him, however feebly it may seem, rather than wailing on your bed. “The prayers offered in the state of dryness are those which please him best.” 2
    Faith feels many different ways. It can be buoyant; it can be depressed and lifeless. Feelings don’t define faith. Instead, faith is simply turning to the Lord. When you speak the psalms, you are “doing” faith. And remember that faith is the work of the Spirit of God in our hearts. As such, if you can speak psalms, God is near.
    With this in mind, persevere. Don’t just speak the prayers so that your depression can lift. Speak them because they are true and because they are evidence of Christ at work in you. Speak them often.

I have posted watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem; they will never be silent day or night. You who call on theL ORD , give yourselves no rest, and give him no rest till he establishes Jerusalem and makes her the praise of the earth. (Isa. 62:6–7)
    Say your liturgy at set times during the day. Get others to pray with you and for you.
R ESPONSE
    Maybe you feel like a spiritual misfit because you can’t own an entire psalm. As soon as you are connected to it, it moves off into spiritual heights and leaves you behind. If you can stay with parts of it, that is more than enough for now. Faith is not the presence of warm religious feeling. It’s the knowledge that you walk before the God who hears. Read Psalm 88. Notice how it ends with “darkness is my closest friend.” We don’t think of this as an expression of faith, but, when you say it to the God who hears it, it is heroic faith.
    Let me remind you where we are. We have not yet delved into the specifics of your depression. Instead, we are just touching on some of God’s communication to you. Please don’t think that we are going to exhaust Scripture’s depths. Instead, be encouraged that God’s words of comfort and direction are nearly limitless. Scores of wonderful books only begin to unwrap Scripture’s surprises.
    If nothing resonates with you, then consider why. Sometimes we want God to be distant. Although your indifference could come from other places, isn’t it true that we are indifferent when we no longer want to bother with someone? Perhaps you have unvoiced frustrations in your relationship with God. What might they be? Speak them to him.
    Trust in him at all times, O people;
    pour out your heart to him,
    for God is our refuge. (Ps. 62:8)

CHAPTER
7

Warfare
    Carol would say that it was impossible to fight against depression, but she already was fighting. She had sought help from professionals and peers. She read. She kept putting one foot in front of the other. She tried to steer clear of the especially dark thoughts that threatened to overtake her. So she really had engaged in the battle. It was settled.
    Her next step was to fight smart.
    If you knew an enemy was in hot pursuit, you would be on guard, especially if that enemy specialized in guerrilla tactics. Even when depressed, a threat on our lives is enough to ensure a surge of energy, unless, of course, we didn’t know an enemy was after us.
    During times of suffering and difficulty, spiritual warfare is virtually guaranteed. We watch Satan seize what he thought was his golden opportunity when Jesus was led into the desert to endure physical suffering and spiritual isolation (Matt. 4). How much more will Satan pursue mere mortals when they go through the emotionally arid experience of depression? The Bible depicts him as a lion,lurking in the tall grass, patiently waiting to devour those who are susceptible (1 Pet. 5:8).
    Think about the nature of depression. Life is turned inward. You already have a sense that, for all practical purposes, God is not present. Add to that your relentless condemnation and pervasive self-criticism,