We began this study thirteen weeks ago discussing how a depressed person sees himself / herself. A depressed person sees himself or herself as a “loser,” an inadequate person doomed to frustration, deprivation, humiliation, and failure (Burns, xi). We have made use of a book by Dr. David Burns, Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy as well as a good book from Gospel Advocate, appropriate for a Bible class study, by Chad Ramsey titled In God’s Image. Of course, the foundation for all studies is the inspired Word of God.
Depression involves a disturbance in our thinking: the depressed person thinks in peculiar and negative ways about himself, his environment, and his future. This affects his mood, his motivation, and his relationships with others which leads to the full spectrum of psychological and physical symptoms typical of depression (Burns, xii).
We have tried to emphasize that people can learn to control painful mood swings and self-defeating behavior through the application of a few relatively simple principles and techniques, based largely on controlling our thoughts (Rom. 12:1-2).
Dr. Burns writes that genetic influences appear to account for only about 16% of depression. Life influences appear to be the most important causes. Therefore, how we respond to life can have a huge impact on how we deal with the emotional turmoil that results from life.
Before we can adequately and properly apply psychological techniques (by Dr. Burns or others), we have to have a biblical understanding of the nature of man. Consequently, we have tried to build a foundation for our studies on biblical anthropology: man is a spiritual being, an intellectual being, a social being, an ethical being, a privileged being, a freewill being, an emotional being, a moral being, and a religious being.
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Depression is not new to mankind. Jeremiah was depressed over the destruction of Jerusalem (see the book of Lamentations). But Jeremiah found hope in God: “The Lord’s loving-kindnesses indeed never cease, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “Therefore I have hope in Him.”
We can define biblical hope as “the desire with expectation to attain.” As Alexander the Great began his conquests across Asia, he inquired of soldiers’ finances. To be sure that their families were secure, Alexander distributed estates and revenue to them. He had disposed of nearly all the royal revenues when General Perdiccas asked him what he had reserved for himself. “Hope,” the young king answered. “In that case,” Perdiccas replied, “we who share in your labors will also take part in your hopes.” Perdiccas refused his estate and several other of the king’s friends did also.
Jesus has promised us so much, and in the midst of our depressing tears, we can find strength in hope. Hope that God will walk us through the valley (Psa. 23). Hope that God will calm our fears (2 Tim. 1:7). Hope that God will straighten out our mess (Rom. 8:28). Hope that God will love us through it all (1 John 4:9). Hope that God will one day take us away to a perfect home (John 14:3). If we have this hope in ourselves, let us purify our minds from the contaminants of this Satan-dominated world (1 John 3:2; 2 Corinthians 10:5).
Paul Holland
