LIFTING DEPRESSION DURING COVID – 19
Text: Psalms 42
Psalm 42 & 43 are linked together with a repeated verse, which occurs 2x’ in Psalm 42 and 1x in Psalm 43.
Psalm 42:5, 11; Psalm 43:5- “Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him. For the help of His countenance.”
-This is a Psalm when we don’t feel like singing.
-This is a Psalm for walking through a deep depression.
- DAVID ASKS THE QUESTION LIKE WE DO: WHERE IS GOD?
Psalm 42:1-3
David looks for God. (v. 1)
The cause of most depression is our sense of loss; a loved one, a prized goal,
a friendship, health, job, career, marriage, romance, dreams, innocence.
Depression deepens when we FEEL that God is far away.
What have you lost that made you feel sad?
For David, it was the apparent loss of God’s presence.
As the deer, we long to find the source to assuage our thirst. (v. 2)
- I FEEL SO ALONE. Psalm 42:4-5
David remembers leading praise and worship to the temple. (v. 4)
The hard part of depression is when the answer isn’t obvious at all.
Asking the question turns our focus from past woes to future hope in God.
“Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my Savior, and my God.”
- HERE WE GO AGAIN. Psalm 42: 6-11
Going from the peak to the pit and back to the peak and back to the pit is a collective experience when we suffer depression.
One moment there is a Ray of Hope. (v. 5)
The next moment, we are downcast. (v. 6)
When you are depressed-you are in the land of Jordan (v. 6)
Jordan happens to be the lowest spot on the earth.
Hermon is the highest place in Israel.
- David reminds us of the UNFORTUNATE lows and highs of life.
David remembers better days. We can reminisce about the “NORMAL” we used to have “Pre-Corona.”
God’s nature causes birds and animals to traverse great distances to find safe places.
The “Bar-Tailed Godwits” are birds that live on the Alaskan Coast. They fly to Australia for the winter.
They fly a nonstop flight over 7,000 miles.
- We must be willing to find the secret place of God’s presence.
(v. 7) Out of the depths of my soul, God calls me to His presence.
(v. 8) – I respond to God’s love both day and night.
(vs. 9-10)Sometimes relief is short-lived.
We have something the sons of Korah (who wrote this Psalm) never had:
- The Presence of Jesus. Hebrews 13:5-6 (AMP)
- The fellowship of the Holy Spirit. John 14:16-18
- God intercedes for us. John 17:9
CONCLUSION:
- God works all things for our good. Romans 8:28