Oswald Chambers
Taking the Initiative Against Depression
"Arise and eat"
—1 Kings 19:5
The angel in this passage did not give Elijah a vision, or
explain the Scriptures to him, or do anything remarkable. He simply told Elijah
to do a very ordinary thing, that is, to get up and eat. If we were never
depressed, we would not be alive—only material things don’t suffer depression.
If human beings were not capable of depression, we would have no capacity for
happiness and exaltation. There are things in life that are designed to depress
us; for example, things that are associated with death. Whenever you examine
yourself, always take into account your capacity for depression.When the Spirit of God comes to us, He does not give us glorious visions, but He tells us to do the most ordinary things imaginable. Depression tends to turn us away from the everyday things of God’s creation. But whenever God steps in, His inspiration is to do the most natural, simple things-things we would never have imagined God was in, but as we do them we find Him there. The inspiration that comes to us in this way is an initiative against depression. But we must take the first step and do it in the inspiration of God. If, however, we do something simply to overcome our depression, we will only deepen it. But when the Spirit of God leads us instinctively to do something, the moment we do it the depression is gone. As soon as we arise and obey, we enter a higher plane of life.
BIBLE VERSES & DEPRESSION
The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. (Deuteronomy 31:8)
You are my lamp O Lord; the Lord turns my darkness into light. (2 Samuel 22:29)
Anyone who is among the living has hope. (Ecclesiastes 9:4)
The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. (Psalms 9:9)
"Fear thou not; for I am with thee, be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness." (Isaiah 41:10)
Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and He shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD. (Psalm 27:14)
The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. A righteous man may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all. (Psalm 34:18-19)
Then they cried unto the LORD in their trouble, and he saved them out of their distresses. He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and brake their bands in sunder. (Psalm 107:13-16)
If the Lord delights in a man’s way, he makes his steps firm; though he stumbles, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with his hand. (Psalm 37:23-34)
Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God. (Psalm 43:5)
Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall. (Psalm 55:22)
Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him. (Psalm 62: 5)
Nevertheless God, that comforts, those that are depressed, comforted us by the coming of Titus; And not by his coming only, but by the consolation wherewith he was comforted in you, when he told us your earnest desire, your mourning, your fervent mind toward me; so that I rejoiced the more. (2 Corinthians 7:6-7
Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. (1 Peter 5:7)
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