Down In the Dumps
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“I get so depressed sometimes I wish I could die!” the sad woman exclaimed. “You don’t know what it’s like to live with a man like my husband!”
“I realize it may be bad, Maria,” her pastor consoled. “But while he’s at work, can’t you shake off this depression that gets you down? Have you tried reading the Bible or listening or viewing some good Christian programs on radio or TV?”
She shook her head. “Oh, life with my husband isn’t the only thing that gets me down. It’s life in general these days–so much trouble going on in the world–war, sickness, increase in crime and immorality. What if my children get involved with drugs or something like that?”
Are you feeling hopeless?: Moving through your suffering
Exhale your sin: Find hope in the Holy Spirit
“Now, Maria, you’re looking for trouble,” answered her pastor. “Yes, I agree these are bad days in which we live. But we have the same Lord today that Christians down through the centuries have had. He makes all the difference in a Christian’s life.
If we set our affections on things above, we won’t be dragged down by things on this earth. God doesn’t want His children to live in the dumps. He can lift us up to the heavenlies with His joy and peace. But we have to take every problem to Him and trust Him to take care of it!”
Maria is like many Christians today. They spend too much time down in the dumps with the devil, when they could enjoy the princely privileges God gives His children even in this life.
Down in the dumps
The dumps isn’t a pretty place. All kinds of garbage lie around. Unpleasant smoke stings the nostrils with its acrid fumes. The company there isn’t pleasant either, for you can hardly stand yourself at times! Your mind whispers discouraging suggestions such as, “Why don’t you just give up” and “Why don’t you kill yourself? The garbage surrounding a person in the dumps is enough to depress anyone. There are those old regrets (but you can’t relive the past). There are present problems. (But does worrying ever solve them?)Sometimes the future seems hopeless.
When we are in the dumps we are not much use to anyone, and we certainly are no testimony for the Lord. We are miserable. We can’t sleep. We snap and bite. Our faith is at a low ebb. And we are vulnerable to Satan.
Up with the Lord
Jesus said to His followers, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid” (John 14:27). When we turn to the Lord in faith away from our garbage dump of troubles, we find a wonderful peace steals into our hearts. We experience such grace that suddenly we want to sing as the angels in Heaven. “Praise the Lord!”
Jesus also said that where our treasure is, there also will be our heart. If we count our treasure as being in Heaven, then the temporary things that take place in this world will not matter half so much. For as our minds are set on things above, we will know in our hearts that God’s hand is on everything concerning you.
Dr. Charles Haddon Spurgeon said, “The Lord gets his best soldiers out of the highlands of affliction.”
TAKE THE NEXT STEP: Depression is NOT spiritual failure
About the Author Muriel Larson
10 Responses to “Down In the Dumps”
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the Lord deliverd me from an abuser many years ag and i know i could not have made it with out Him
Hi Joyce Salaz, we at Power to Change are happy to hear that you enjoyed our devotional and are interested in subscribing. Please visit http://powertochange.com/experience/subscribe/ to subscribe to any number of our daily devotionals and newsletters.
A wonderful friend showed this to me. I would love to receive your newsletters. I am really needing help.
This devotional is not about mental illness, Robyn. The illustrative anecdote dealt with an abused woman who suffered much because of her husband. I myself suffered verbal and physical abuse for years, but I had dedicated my life to the Lord and He and His Word helped me to rise above all the trials I went through. One day I too was tempted to kill myself, but the Lord made me put the pills away–and six months later the Lord delivered me from my abuser. I believe He allowed me to go through all the trials I did in order to prepare me to give compassionate advice to other suffering people.
I, too, have suffered from clinical depression in the past, and I’ve found that many other ladies will “admit” to having had it also, if I mention it. It does help to share your story, once you’re feeling up to it.
Wonderful!!! Thank you so much. I had a horrible week. One of the weeks where you just throw your hands up and cry because you dont know what else to do! Thanks for reminding me that the good Lord is always there for me to talk with when things get rough.
thank you i needed this today i have been felling “down in the dumps” for the last few weeks and this devotional did help me some and i will do better i know with Him all things are possible
I’m sorry, but I totally disagree with this perspective. In this anecdote, a woman expresses her desire to DIE. That should be taken seriously, not brushed off. In the anecdote, the pastor doesn’t even query her as to whether she has a plan, etc. I would hope that pastors would have more training in how to determine the level of seriousness of a person’s suicidal ideation and what to do afterward. As someone who has struggled with depression and been suicidal to the point of being hospitalized so that I wouldn’t hurt myself, I find this devotion to be inappropriately blase with regard to the realities of mental illness.
Wow! I’m on board and “Up with the Lord” !!! It’s a choice; isn’t it? Thanks so much for making this choice perfectly clear. :)
Thank you. Please pray for my mom, she sounds a lot like the ‘woman’ in the story. My dad is a very difficult person at times, and sometimes our family stresses out about him/ different things.
Thanks for reminding us to take control of our thoughts, that we are supposed to have a choice over controlling them. Thanks for also reminding us that Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever… it’s easy to forget at times. God bless.