Depression: A Devotional For The Wounded Spirit Exemplo

Yesterday we looked at Søren Kierkegaard's parable in regards to how Christ himself bore the weight of anxiety and depression for our sake. The story, however, does not end with a disgraced King who lies dead in a tomb. The story concludes with a resurrected King, who has returned to his throne and captured the heart of his bride.

One of the unusual claims of Christianity is that our God became a man, died, and then returned from death to rule again. In every story in the Scriptures, we see Jesus has absolute power over death, resurrecting Lazarus and Jairus's daughter from the dead. In the midst of depression, we may feel dead inside.We must remember that we serve a God who has a tendency to resurrect dead things. His heart has, and will always be, the restoration of all things to their former glory.

Today, it may feel like healing and restoration are a long, long way off. In the Book of Revelation, the Apostle John has a vision in which Jesus says that one day all the pain, depression, hurt, and dark days will be entirely erased. The King himself, Jesus, will "wipe away every tear." There will come a day when crying ceases, suffering is no more, and we live in perfect harmony with our Creator enjoying our newly resurrected bodies.

There will be an ending to the depression we feel one day, but it doesn't have to be tomorrow. This season of depression may be short, or it may be a lifetime battle fighting and practicing hope. Learn to practice hope. On the days when it's difficult, practice hope. On the days when you want to give up, practice hope. And when you are tempted to give up, do this instead: Persevere.

In the movie the Dark Knight, there is a scene in which The Joker has placed Batman in an impossible dilemma. He must remove his mask, or the Joker will continue killing people (which we know is a ruse). When faced with this scenario, the exchange between Batman and his butler reminds us of our choice as well:

"People are dying, Alfred. What would you have me do?" "Endure, Master Wayne. Take it. You can make the choice that no one else can make…the right choice."

Endure. Persevere.

Hold Fast. We Believe in You.