"Deep calls unto deep at the noise of Your waterfalls." Psalm 42:7 NKJV
Many people today suffer with depression. It can disable a person's mind, robbing them of all motivation and faith. At times it strikes when a person is not expecting it, such as a personal crisis, where the wind is taken out of the person's sails and they have a feeling that they just cannot cope or take anymore.
Many bible leaders from the past suffered depression, including King David, Elijah and Jonah. There were others. This Psalm is very interesting because it shows the Psalmist suffering a fluctuating mood - hope and despair, confidence and then collapse and fear and bouts of faith. The writer was almost undergoing seesaw faith, one minute up and the next down in despair.
He does something interesting, he challenges his soul - his mind, will and emotions and he says:
'Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him for the help of His countenance' Psalm 42:5.
He preached to himself, challenging his thoughts and feelings and then he paraphrased, 'I don't feel like praising Him now, but He is worthy of my hope - and I shall yet praise Him.' He is saying 'My soul is cast down within me, therefore, I will remember You' v6.
As he focuses on his feelings, he describes a waterfall. As the power of the water plunges into the body of water, it surges downward. If anyone is in the way of this, they may be taken down with the sudden power of it all. He mentions, 'Deep calls unto deep at the noise of Your waterfalls' v7. He realises that the more he focuses on the problem he is dragged down further and the depression becomes worse and can set up home within.
This is very important, when a person is depressed, it is very genuine and they find it difficult to make choices or think positive about anything at all. We know that God is the healer and He will and has healed people of this condition. But, everyone is different. Psalm 103:5 NIV describes God redeeming our life from the pit, that pit of despair that describes depression. Some people receive their healing instantly. Sadly for others, it takes a little longer for healing to fully kick in because the person may be further down in the 'deep calls unto deep' than the other.
You may have or be suffering depression at this time. It will pass but there are things that we can put into place to help speed the process. Like the Psalmist here, think of something that God has done in your life that gave you hope. Focus on that and each day build upon it until you can begin to thank and praise Him for this. It may take time, but it is a worthwhile exercise. Try and avoid the 'Deep things' the things that paint a darkness in your mind, and taking one day at a time with Your friend, Jesus, walk out of this captivity into freedom.
Copyriight 2021 Grahame Howard
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