Depression: A Devotional For The Wounded Spirit Exemplo

Nearly all of us struggle with selfishness and self-centeredness - it’s human nature. When we’re emotionally unhealthy, we tend to be even more self-focused because all we can see is our pain. This introspectiveness and suffering can spur us to deal with our soul wounds and possible sin areas in our lives, which is essential in becoming spiritually, mentally, and emotionally healthy individuals.

However, too much self-focus will worsen the problem. When we can only see our own need, we sink further into discontentment and despair. Knowing this, God calls us to notice and meet the needs of others - for both our sakes. In the beginning of Isaiah 58, he explains to the Israelites why their religious actions of prayer and fasting have received no acknowledgment or favor from him - they do it for what they can get out of it, and their hearts are only concerned with their own pleasure.

Then, he urges them in verses 6-12 to get their eyes off themselves and their own desires, and notice those who are desperate for help - the oppressed, the hungry, the homeless, the afflicted. He assures them, “Then shall your light break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up speedily...And the Lord will guide you continually and satisfy your desire in scorched places…” (Is 58:8a, 11a).

That is a promise worth working for, something we all want to experience.

If the idea of serving or trying to bear someone else’s physical or emotional burden seems completely unattainable right now, know that it’s ok to start small. Remember when we talked about the sympathetic High Priest who knows our weakness and hurt? He’s not up there judging you for feeling overwhelmed.

So start small. Find something you care about - sex trafficking victims, the elderly who have no one to care for them, little kids who need help learning to read - there’s always something you can do. Then, go serve once or twice, and see how you feel. If you liked it, commit to going at least once a week. If you didn’t, just try something else! That “light breaking forth like the dawn” often comes because you feel good helping another human being.

So just give it a try. What could it hurt?