PONDER THIS

The psalmist said to his soul, “Why are you cast down, O my soul?” Now this is where you have to take control. You have to look your soul straight in the eye and say, “Soul, why are you feeling this way?” You have to look within and analyze your heart. Why are you depressed?

Maybe you’ve lost a loved one to death. Maybe it’s a child. Maybe it’s a spouse. If you’ve lost a loved one, pour out your grief to God. Ask your friends to help share your grief and realize that life is not over for you. Whatever it is, refuse to brood and rehearse it over and over again. It does no good. If you’ve had a heartbreak, see what you’ve learned from that heartbreak and then go out and begin to develop some new relationships. Perhaps you have sinned or done some grievous thing, and you’re being haunted by the ghost of guilt. What do you do? Confess it to God. If you need to confess it to someone else and ask for forgiveness, do it. If you can make restitution, do it. Do what you do and then close the door behind it. Analyze. Look at your heart. Ask yourself, “Why am I cast down?”

• What are some things that have caused you to be cast down?
• Where do you typically turn when you are downcast?

PRACTICE THIS

Share with someone how God has worked in your life in a moment when you were downcast.

How to Get Up When You’re Down

Psalm 42:5-11

In this message, Adrian Rogers offers hope and guidance on how to deal with depression.

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When Jesus Forgave Peter

Peter wept bitterly, but afterward, it yielded the peaceable fruit of righteousness.

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