Heartsick – Part 1
Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life. Proverbs 13:12
Depression can cause you to give up on life. When the job got too big for Moses, he told God, ‘Kill me here and now… and do not let me see my wretchedness!’ (Numbers 11:15). Certain that Jezebel would make good on her threats to kill him, Elijah asked God to take his life. It’s said the book of Job covers a span of only nine months, but Job’s losses were so devastating that he said, ‘My soul loathes my life’ (Job 10:1). Solomon said, ‘Hope deferred makes the heart sick.’ Instead of arguing over the question, ‘Will a Christian who takes their own life go to heaven?’ we need to ask God for wisdom to know when a loved one has become so hopeless or emotionally ill that they can’t take another day of it. Who are these people? Young people who cut themselves as a cry for help. War veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder who can’t escape the demons of war, and can’t expel them. Victims of abuse who engage in harmful or unhealthy behaviors as a way of coping. Good people who struggle with sexual issues but are terrified to talk about it. According to the World Health Organization, 615 million people worldwide are battling depression or anxiety every day. They sleep in mansions and under bridges. Some of them are Christians with thoughts of suicide, who dread hearing that they’re weak and don’t have enough faith. A quick Scripture, a brief prayer, and sending them away with a ‘God bless you’ only throws them to the wolves. Jesus said, ‘I am sending you,’ because you have the Word, the Spirit, and the power to help them.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, with so many lonely and hurting people, help me be an agent of Your love and Presence to those You lead me to and share the hope that only You can provide through Your Son. In His Name I pray. Amen
Some people can not be helped. I have a daughter who suffers from depression and alcohol abuse. Therapy and drugs useless! She has a personality disorder. I pray for her constantly. She is abusive to everyone. Including her family and friends. She is in the Lords hands !!!
Thank you so much for addressing depression, anxiety, and mental illness. There is such a need for this ministry in the church. People desperately need to be able to turn to their local churches for hope and healing.
Thank you for your timely message – God is always right on time- still grieving the loss of my sweet husband – had a rough morning but the Word gave me the help I longed for. God Bless Your Work-
God loves them. That should be our message.
THANK YOU for this devotion! I am so appreciative that you are posting about mental health in such a great way to make people know it’s ok to talk about and it’s ok to ask for help. Today’s devotion really meant a lot to me – thank you.
Spoke to me. I have suffered from depression as long as I can remember. Medication helps. I can live my like fully. But the depression is always lurking in the corner of my mind.