As many have said, the longest journey we will ever take as humans is those 18 inches from our head to our heart. There are so many things we know, but struggle to fully believe and apply.
David found himself in that situation as he wrote Psalm 42. He’s writing during the time when his son Absolom was hunting him down, trying to kill his own father so he could make himself king. So David’s in hiding. He’s afraid for his life and worried for the future of his kingdom. He’s totally alone. Totally helpless. And totally depressed.
So look at how he starts the Psalm:
As a deer longs for flowing streams, so I long for you, God. I thirst for God, the living God. When can I come and appear before God? My tears have been my food day and night. (Psalm 42:1-3).
David’s experiencing deep spiritual depression, and there are practical lessons we can draw about how to respond.
1. Go to God
David says, “As a deer longs for flowing streams, so I long for you God” (v 1).
He’s not thirsting for a change in his circumstances. He’s not thirsting for escape or revenge. He’s thirsting for God!
So the first thing to do when you’re in despair is to fully despair! Despair of yourself. Despair of this world. You’re already despairing, so keep despairing until you get to the place where you’ve got no other option but to throw yourself on God’s grace. And then be honest with God about how you feel. Don’t hold it back. Talk to him! Tell him everything.
2. Listen to God
David says, “Deep calls to deep in the roar of your waterfalls; all your breakers and your billows have swept over me” (v 7).
If you call out in the deep pain you’re feeling, then the deep love of God will answer. Go to his word, and pray through it one verse at a time (or even one word at a time). God will speak. You just have to listen.
3. Talk to Yourself.
Take what you hear from God, and preach it to yourself like David says, “Why, my soul, are you so dejected? Why are you in such turmoil? Put your hope in God, for I will still praise him, my Savior and my God” (v 5).
David’s decided to stop listening to himself, and start talking to himself with God’s truth. That’s the prescription Dr Martyn Lloyd Jones gave for spiritual depression: “Have you realized that most of your unhappiness in life is due to the fact that you are listening to yourself instead of talking to yourself?”
- When you’re feeling lonely, talk to yourself with Hebrews 13:5: “He himself has said, I will never leave you or abandon you.”
- When you’re feeling forgotten and unloved, talk to yourself with Romans 8:38: “Who can separate us from the love of Christ? I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
- When you’re feeling exhausted because it seems like nothing’s ever going to change, talk to yourself with Revelation 21:4: “One day he will wipe away every tear from our eyes. Death will be no more; grief, crying, and pain will be no more.”
4. Go to God’s Family.
When David’s in despair, he wants to be with God’s family. He says, “I remember how I walked with many, leading the festive procession to the house of God. And I will still praise him, my Savior and my God” (v 4).
He’s looking forward to being back with God’s family again! What do you look forward to when you’re depressed? Maybe it’s a big purchase that will distract you for a while. You start shopping for a new outfit, new phone, or new car. Maybe when you’re depressed, you look forward to a big vacation. You start spending all your time on TripAdvisor. You can’t wait to just escape from real life.
But when David’s depressed? He looks forward to being with God’s family. Because, as Jesus said, “Where two or more are gathered together? I’m there!” When we come together, we’re meeting Jesus together. The family of God will give us the hope of God like nothing else in this world.
5. Sing to God!
That’s what David’s doing through all of life. He sings when life is wonderful, and he sings when life is terrible: “His song will be with me in the night, a prayer to the God of my life” (v 8). Even in the darkness of the night, David’s singing. Because singing gives you strength!
Singing is a form of rebellion. You’re saying to the world, “You can’t make me be quiet.” You’re saying to Satan, “You can’t push me around. You’re saying to life, “You can’t hold me down. I’m going to sing about the goodness of God!”
So keep singing, even when you don’t feel like it.