Mental Health for the Christian: Gems in the Depths

If it seems especially dark right now, this post may help. At the moment, I'm slowly emerging from such a dark place. Thanks for praying for me! Here are a few thoughts from what I call "the depths of despair."

I've visited caves in my time. I'm not sure why tour guides feel it necessary to turn out the lights, just so you can experience total darkness. To label me as claustrophobic is a bit of an understatement. To experience bipolar or unipolar depression is like having the lights turned off, but then not turned back on right away. Instead, the light slowly increases as I feel my way up the dark passage. This may not describe your experience, but it does mine. The downward tumble can be pretty sudden. The recovery is invariably a slow climb.

There are a couple of things I can offer up as encouragements. The first is to know that, "This too shall pass." I remind myself that I have done this journey in the past, and that I have always emerged from my depression. It may take considerable time, but if I am patient I always seem to find my way out. And you will too!

The second encouragement has to do with there being "gems" in the walls of the cave. These "light up" as the light increases along the way. Let me tell you about one of those gems from the life of Jeremiah. He is called the "weeping prophet," and for good reason. Not only did he have a "dark" calling--to preach judgment to the the people of Israel and Judah--but he also had a "dark" life, suffering great affliction at the hands of those he prophesied against. There is an especially dark passage in Jeremiah chapter 15. The heading of this passage in the English Standard Version reads, "Jeremiah's Complaint." He cries out, "Woe is me, my mother, that you bore me, a man of strife and contention to the whole land!" (verse 10) He asks, "Why is my pain unceasing, my wound incurable, refusing to be healed?" (verse 18) In the depths of my despair, I too feel incurable.

But then the glint of light, a sparkling gem stone along the way out. Smack in the midst of Jeremiah 15 we read, "Your words were found, and I ate them, and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart." (verse 16) I can't tell you how much this verse has encouraged me during the days of my recent climb. God's words have been to me a joy (in the midst of suffering) and the delight of my heart (in the face of gloom). I've eaten that verse. I've chewed on that verse. I've digested that verse. And the tunnel has been lighter for it.

So let me encourage you to do the same. It may not be that verse, but find another that speaks to you and "eat" it. May it become to you a joy, and your delight.

Blessings!

The Christian Bipole