Dark Night of the Soul
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Not "depression", but I have deeply grieved for a specific reason, and it led me to intercede with tears. Know what you are depressed about - loss? concern? And use it as a lead-in to prayer.
Godly sorrow is usually for a purpose. When it comes from the Holy Spirit, it is a calling to either repent or intercede, and you know that you are feeling His heart for someone or something.
Anything else I would question if it isn't something going on with myself that needs to be dealt with.
Godly sorrow is usually for a purpose. When it comes from the Holy Spirit, it is a calling to either repent or intercede, and you know that you are feeling His heart for someone or something.
Anything else I would question if it isn't something going on with myself that needs to be dealt with.
Why don't you tell us more precisely what you're dealing with.
Are you depressed about spiritual evils out in the world, or spiritual evils within yourself, or is the depression just about life in general, or are you having some crisis of faith where you're having trouble believing in God?
What exactly is going on?
Why don't you tell us what you're depressed about, and when it started, and then after we all understand what you're talking about we can try to speak to you intelligently.
Are you depressed about spiritual evils out in the world, or spiritual evils within yourself, or is the depression just about life in general, or are you having some crisis of faith where you're having trouble believing in God?
What exactly is going on?
Why don't you tell us what you're depressed about, and when it started, and then after we all understand what you're talking about we can try to speak to you intelligently.
Yes, I have. I have been a Christian for over 30 years. Several years ago we had a home invasion. My husband and I were sleeping. Our bedroom is above the garage. Our children were 18 and 20 at the time and were in the family room. They heard the door from the garage opening and went to investigate. It was standing open, so they turned on the light and my daughter walked thru the garage to the other end to see if the man door was locked. Then my son heard something under my SUV. There was a man laying under it. My son yelled, "What are you doing?" The guy crawled out and ran for the man door. My son came bursting into our bedroom. We had slept through the whole thing. When he told us what happened I went into shock. I kept thinking, "If he had had a gun, both my kids could have been dead while I slept!" I felt so betrayed by God because I study His attributes on a regular basis and when I thought about the fact that He saw that man come into my house I couldn't help thinking, "Why my house? Why didn't you send him to another house?" Anyway I struggled with that for a while until I was reading in John Calvin's Institutes of the Christian Religion. He said something to the effect that it is more comforting knowing that God sees all the random acts of violence and evil and is in control of them. That it would be even more scary to think that evil was going on around us but God didn't see it or have any control over it. It helped me see that God had protected us and that I could trust Him. I don't know if this helps but just wanted you to know that others go through what you're experiencing. Saying a prayer that you find answers. Try watching Ravi Zaccharias on YouTube or listening to Christian radio. God knows what you are going through and will give you the answers you are seeking through His Word and pastors.
I think Maxwel asked some very important questions. We can share our experiences, but they may be quite different than what you are going through.
As for me, I was suffering terribly from losing my life from Rheumatoid Arthritis, and between the pain and loneliness, I became depressed and turned my back on God.
God was faithful, and after 2 years of sulking, he told me to read the Psalms. It took a while, but I finally picked up my Bible again and read 5 psalms a day for 2 years. I found hurting people who cried out to God. I also found them praising God no matter what. God then called me to seminary, and now I am a pastor, my ministry is to those who are hurting and broken.
I would suggest that you just sit down and read the Psalms over daily, for a start. Of course, you may need medical attention, spiritual or psychological counseling, or other things. One thing I do know, it is very hard to get over depression without some kind of help. And the longer you wait to get help, the worse the depression will become and the harder it is to get over.
So, see your doctor and your pastor immediately. There are so many people waiting to help you. Although your situation may seem hopeless, it is amazing what getting the right help can do to change this downward direction you are headed in. Posting here is a good first step. Please take the next steps!
As for me, I was suffering terribly from losing my life from Rheumatoid Arthritis, and between the pain and loneliness, I became depressed and turned my back on God.
God was faithful, and after 2 years of sulking, he told me to read the Psalms. It took a while, but I finally picked up my Bible again and read 5 psalms a day for 2 years. I found hurting people who cried out to God. I also found them praising God no matter what. God then called me to seminary, and now I am a pastor, my ministry is to those who are hurting and broken.
I would suggest that you just sit down and read the Psalms over daily, for a start. Of course, you may need medical attention, spiritual or psychological counseling, or other things. One thing I do know, it is very hard to get over depression without some kind of help. And the longer you wait to get help, the worse the depression will become and the harder it is to get over.
So, see your doctor and your pastor immediately. There are so many people waiting to help you. Although your situation may seem hopeless, it is amazing what getting the right help can do to change this downward direction you are headed in. Posting here is a good first step. Please take the next steps!
F
Yes, I've been there. It lasted a few years, actually, but the actual bottom of it kind of happened at two separate times within the span of two months.
The first bottom I reached was after I had finally decided to do what God asked of me and turn down a ministry that wanted to send me to the South Pacific to do work there. I had all the qualifications and even went to college for four years preparing for that day. I had been there one time before and loved the culture and people. But when the organization finally offered me a job... I had to be obedient and say no.
At first, it didn't really hit me. But after telling someone about it over the phone, I suddenly realized I no longer had any clear goal in life. No career, no history to write. And I felt absolutely alone and left in the dust by all my peers. I collapsed sobbing while in the shower and continued after going to my bedroom. I just laid on the floor and sobbed for over an hour, asking God why over and over and expressing how abandoned I felt.
After recovering from that, I set my sights on doing ministry at my current workplace. I grew close to my co-workers and pursued deeper conversations with them. It seemed like everything was going good. God was opening doors and my efforts were being reciprocated. Then, with zero warning, my boss laid me off and sent me home with my last paycheck... No goodbyes to my co-workers, nothing...
This on top of my previous major letdown was more than I could bear and I broke down in front of my family. It felt like anything I wanted to do to serve God was being torn away for no reason, and as if God hadn't heard any of my prayers. It was true heartbreak - when it actually hurts inside.
I healed form all this over time, and God totally showered his blessings on me afterwards. Now I look back and see at least a tiny piece of why God allowed all of that to happen, and I can praise Him for his wisdom and love. A love which is far deeper than I ever understood before.
So that was my dark night of the soul. And it could happen again... But at least I'll have the knowledge now that God's ways are truly higher than my own and He knows what He's doing, even if it hurts to the core of my being.
The first bottom I reached was after I had finally decided to do what God asked of me and turn down a ministry that wanted to send me to the South Pacific to do work there. I had all the qualifications and even went to college for four years preparing for that day. I had been there one time before and loved the culture and people. But when the organization finally offered me a job... I had to be obedient and say no.
At first, it didn't really hit me. But after telling someone about it over the phone, I suddenly realized I no longer had any clear goal in life. No career, no history to write. And I felt absolutely alone and left in the dust by all my peers. I collapsed sobbing while in the shower and continued after going to my bedroom. I just laid on the floor and sobbed for over an hour, asking God why over and over and expressing how abandoned I felt.
After recovering from that, I set my sights on doing ministry at my current workplace. I grew close to my co-workers and pursued deeper conversations with them. It seemed like everything was going good. God was opening doors and my efforts were being reciprocated. Then, with zero warning, my boss laid me off and sent me home with my last paycheck... No goodbyes to my co-workers, nothing...
This on top of my previous major letdown was more than I could bear and I broke down in front of my family. It felt like anything I wanted to do to serve God was being torn away for no reason, and as if God hadn't heard any of my prayers. It was true heartbreak - when it actually hurts inside.
I healed form all this over time, and God totally showered his blessings on me afterwards. Now I look back and see at least a tiny piece of why God allowed all of that to happen, and I can praise Him for his wisdom and love. A love which is far deeper than I ever understood before.
So that was my dark night of the soul. And it could happen again... But at least I'll have the knowledge now that God's ways are truly higher than my own and He knows what He's doing, even if it hurts to the core of my being.