Subject: Scripture dealing with depression |
Bible Note: Dear Eklmattke, There is a great danger of relieving depression contrary to what God is doing with a person. More often than not what we blithely call "depression" today is what the Scriptures call guilt. We must not ease the pain of guilt without dealing with the root, lest we find ourselves working at cross purposes to God (Isaiah 45:9), eliminating all possibility of good, and including ourselves in Isaiah's curse (cf Ezekiel 13:10-15). Guilt serves very valuable purposes in this world: it convicts all men of coming judgment (John 16:8-11), it is the catalyst of salvation (Psalm 18:27; Luke 18:14), it is used by God to train the believer's heart (2 Corinthians 7:9), etc. etc. So, for the lost person, we must inform them of the cause of their guilt. The Law must be allowed to do its work of wounding, before the Gospel balm may be applied. For the saved person, we must inquire about their walk with God or their understanding of Gospel. Sin must be dealt with in the former situation (Galatians 6:1; Hebrews 10:26). In the latter situation, they may need to have their understanding corrected (Ephesians 2). Notice, even in the passage you cited, what is the result of God's assertion in Jeremiah 29:11? Does verse 12 say, "'Then you will change your negative thinking to positive?'" No, it says "'Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. I will be found by you,' declares the LORD" (Jeremiah 29:12-14a NASB) "It is better to go to a house of mourning Than to go to a house of feasting, Because that is the end of every man, And the living takes it to heart. Sorrow is better than laughter, For when a face is sad a heart may be happy. The mind of the wise is in the house of mourning, While the mind of fools is in the house of pleasure. It is better to listen to the rebuke of a wise man Than for one to listen to the song of fools." (Ecclesiastes 7:2-5 NASB) Thus... we do not administer pain killers... we administer truth. In Him, Doc |