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On Depression (from Spurgeon's Sorrows):


Sony has been reading to me from Spurgeon's Sorrows: Realistic Hope for those who Suffer from Depression by Zack Eswine.

I struggle with depression. I'm not sure I struggle with it in the same way as Spurgeon. For him, he seemed to experience a vast darkness of soul for seemingly no reason. I think this kind of depression very scary and awful.

My depression seems to be a 'causal' depression. Something horrific happened, something tragic happened, and my heart is overcome with many griefs. This kind of depression is certainly its own kind of awful...where there are many vivid images and emotions re-lived, at any given moment.

This particular passage from the book has been incredibly helpful:

Feed Not This Frenzy of the Soul!
It is here, when dealing with spiritual depression, that Charles takes a marked turn in his usually gentle approach as a caregiver and sufferer. Many circumstantial, biological and spiritual pains outlast our abilities to control them or understand them. But, when we face this ancient foe, the devil, there remains only one thing we can and must do. 'Fight!'

'The soul is broken in pieces, lanced, pricked with knives, dissolved, racked, pained. It knows not how to exist when it gives way to fear. Up, Christian! You are of a sorrowful countenance; up and chase your fears. Why would you be ever groaning in your dungeon? Why should Giant Despair forever beat you with his Crabtree cudgel? Up! Drive him away!'

How? In essence, we use the phrase, 'you might be right, BUT JESUS.'

-You might be right, things are worse than I thought, but Jesus!
-You might be right, all is lost, but Jesus!
-You might be right, I am abandoned, but Jesus!
-You might be right, I am forfeit, but Jesus!
-You might be right, I should stay down, but Jesus!
-You might be right, it would be too late for me, but Jesus!
-You might be right, I am out of reach, but Jesus!
-You might be right, I am a sinner, but Jesus!
-You might be right, they might be better off without me, but Jesus!
-You might be right, I could deserve to die, but Jesus!

We plead not ourselves, but the promises of Jesus; not our strengths but His; our weaknesses yes, but His mercies. Our way of fighting is to hide behind Jesus who fights for us. Our hope is not the absence of our regret, or misery or doubt or lament, but the presence of Jesus. 'Doubting Castle may be very strong, but he who comes to fight with Giant Despair is stronger still!'
~p. 49-51

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