PSALM 126:1-3 – When the LORD restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dream. Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy; then they said among the nations, “The LORD has done great things for them.” The LORD has done great things for us; we are glad.
THEME OF THE DAY. STOP. REMEMBER. PRAISE. Every Christian enters those seasons. They might be short or long, but they come. They are part of the curse upon us from the Garden of Eden. Numerous titles may be attached; spiritual discouragement, spiritual depression, being spiritually down, and having the spiritual blues are some I label when my seasons come upon me. Since we cannot prevent them, what may we do to overcome them? A couple of things. Allow me to share one from other portion of scripture, then one from the Psalm in today’s Word.
The Apostle Paul wrote a sad indictment on the Christians in Rome in his letter to the Philippians. His words read – I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, so that I too may be cheered by news of you. For I have no one like him, who will be genuinely concerned for your welfare. For they all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. (Philippians 2:19-21). Now stay with me with this next statement. Sometimes, God will put us in seasons of depression, discouragement, and spiritual blues to chastise us for the sin of self-centered living. I am not saying all causes of these seasons are due to this sin, or any sin. Sometimes they are, sometimes they are not, but if we are so focused on ourselves, contrary to Christ’s command to denial ourselves, we might enter those dark seasons because God is disciplining us. And that leads to the first way out of the blues – get up, get out of ourselves, and go serve the interests of others. This works. I know. I have been in those dark “me caves” and started chastising myself for the pity party, got up and went on missions of ministry and encouragement to others. Try it and stay with it. The blues will be driven away.
Another way out of those painful seasons of discouragement, depression, and being down is found in today’s scripture. When we are feeling smothered by those seasons, all we think about is deliverance and relief. Where do both come from? The Lord. How do we know that? Two ways – His Word and His faithfulness to bring deliverance and relief as He has in our past. Go back and find the repeated sentence in today’s Psalm. What is it telling us? Stop. Remember. Praise. The faithfulness of our God to us in the past ensures the faithfulness of our God to us in the present. If He drove away our dark clouds of spiritual depression, discouragement, and blues in the past, He will be good to do so in the present. And He will when the lessons to learn in the season are accomplished. Be patient, go serve someone and stop, remember, and praise. They just might be the lessons we are to learn in the season we are in!
PRAYER: “Father, help me to never forget how faithful You have been to me all the days of my life.”
QUOTE: “When stuck in the ‘spiritual blues’, pause, and remember God’s faithfulness. It drives them away.”