In the course of working on Sunrise Bible 906 Lesson 7 this morning, I came across something I wrote quite a while ago:

The Psalmist knew about depression and discouragement. In Psalm 42:5 he wrote, “Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me?” Depression and discouragement go beyond feelings, which are often fleeting. These Dreadful D’s are a state of being, a condition of the soul.

That is so important to understand about human nature. Depression especially is far more than mere feelings.

When I think of my soul, I think of my mind; that is, my ability to think as well as the values that guide my life. I think of my will, which to me is my capability to exercise conscious control over myself. I also think of my emotions (and we all know what those are!).

Discouragement and depression exercise a downward, negative effect on our mind, will, and emotions. They warp our thoughts and values. They deprive us of our self-control. And they work ruin with our emotions. Left to run unrestrained, discouragement and depression will pull us in an ever downward spiral. With mind, will, and emotions so diminished, the victim is left with no apparent way out. He is doomed to worsen because his own self-help mechanisms are working against him.

Even so, he can have hope! Listen to David’s assurance as expressed in the completeness of Psalm 42:5. “Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance” (Psalm 42:5). With David we can acknowledge the troubled, cast down state of our soul. With David we can affirm that our hope lies only with God and the help of His countenance.

Please read the rest here: God’s Promises.

And this might bless you also: He Calls. He Leads. Me.