Daily Devotionals
Daily Devotional: Psalms 143:1-6
Ps 143:1-6
O LORD, hear my prayer, listen to my cry for mercy; in your faithfulness and righteousness come to my relief. Do not bring your servant into judgment, for no one living is righteous before you. The enemy pursues me, he crushes me to the ground; he makes me dwell in darkness like those long dead. So my spirit grows faint within me; my heart within me is dismayed. I remember the days of long ago; I meditate on all your works and consider what your hands have done. I spread out my hands to you; my soul thirsts for you like a parched land. Selah
Rom 8:26-27
In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will.
There are times when most of us get down and out and wonder if life is really worth all that we have to put up with each day. For some, this struggle is a daily and ongoing battle. For others, it is once a month or even once a year, but most people suffer from some bouts of depression, at least to some degree. There is nothing wrong with getting down as long as we get back up. It is just part of life.
Even some of the really great people in the Bible suffered from depression at times. Many of the Psalms are expressions of depression and yet David is the great harpist who played to drive away the depression of King Saul. He is known as the man after the heart of God, but still he had his down moments as well.
Some have tried to equate being depressed with a lack of faith. It seems to me that since faithful men like David and Elijah and Moses all had to deal with it, that it is not a lack of faith to get depressed but just a part of living on earth. The real issue then is not do we get depressed but how do we deal with it when it does come on us? In my life, the worst depression has often followed either a really great failure of some kind or a really great victory or achievement. But remember the words of Jesus when he warned Peter that he would fail and would deny him. He said: “when you return, strengthen your brothers.” We are to use these times to make us stronger and then use that strength to encourage others.
Heavenly Father, thank you for the ups and downs in life and all the lessons they teach me about you and about myself. When I get down and just want to quit, help me turn to you and rest in your tender arms. Thank you for the many friends and fellow Christians you have put in my life to help me carry my load. I ask your special mercy and compassion on those who are suffering from depression today. Give them your strength and your peace. I pray in the name of Jesus.
Robert
