HOW TO HELP OTHERS AND YOURSELF WHEN DISCOURAGED OR DEPRESSED
Words of wisdom from your Bible
The Merry Heart
Proverbs 15:13 “A merry heart makes a cheerful countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.” When a person is merry and cheerful, it shows on their face, but when one experiences a broken heart, their will to go on can be lost. We might say, The wind was taken out of her sail. Verse 15 “All the days of the afflicted are evil: but he that is of a merry heart hath a continual feast.” When one faces continual discouragement, not a single day seems to be good, but evil. However, for the one who maintains a merry heart, life is always good. How much more true this is when the person maintaining the merry heart is a lover of the Savior, Jesus Christ!
In Good Health
Proverbs 17:22 “A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit dries the bones.” A bright and positive outlook and attitude can actually work good for the body, much like vitamins or prescription medicine. When one is depressed, it can have an impact on the body’s overall health. It has been documented that a broken spirit or a discouraged heart, over a prolonged period of time, can and often does lead to a diseased body: hypertension, heart attacks, strokes, high blood pressure, cancer, etc. “Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.” (Proverbs 16:24 - It is interesting to note that King Solomon states that honey provides health to the bones. It is doubtful that sugar or artificial sweeteners can make such a claim legitimately.)
In My Shoes
Proverbs 14:10 “The heart knows his own bitterness; and a stranger does not intermeddle with his joy.” Solomon, the writer of this proverb, observed that no one truly “knows” the bitterness or the joy another may experience. Why is this so? The reason for this can be found in understanding that we are each unique beings. Our experiences and feelings may not be a perfect match of those around us. Have you ever noticed how someone can experience a setback, but just keeps moving forward, while another can experience the same or similar setback, yet that person shuts down completely? It is because we are who we are in life, due to our past personal experiences: parents, siblings, education, religious training, status, race, culture, etc., all have their role in making us who we have become. While no one can truly intermeddle with your joys or sorrows, this does not mean he or she can’t offer you help to get through and even come out of your bad spot in life, or share in your joys. While others may not be able to fully understand your heart and mind, they still may have had enough of life’s experiences to share in your joy and sorrows.
A Positive Attitude
Proverbs 18:14 “The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity; but a wounded spirit who can bear?” Any wounded prisoner of war who survived imprisonment and abuse at the hands of his captors, can certainly attest to the truthfulness of the verse. When one is hurting bad physically, a positive attitude—especially when based upon the promises of God’s Word—may get him through his trial. However, when the spirit becomes wounded and downcast, it is then much more difficult to recover or even survive from the infirmity. We see then how important it is for Christians to keep God’s promises in the mind’s forefront, with their eyes fixed on Jesus, His teachings, and the hope of His imminent return! What better way can anyone maintain a good spirit in this fallen world?
Encourage Yourself
Psalm 42:11 “Why are you cast down, O my soul? and why are you disquieted within me? hope you in God: for I shall yet praise him.” It becomes difficult to offer praises to our God when we become discouraged or depressed. This was the case with David, when he sang this song while in exile, desiring to return to his beloved Jerusalem. He had to lift up his own downcast soul, so he could bring himself to praise his God. Sometimes it works to give yourself a good talking to, so you can turn your attitude around. “And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God.” (First Samuel 30:6) At times, it can seem that no one is there to lift you out of your funk. When this happens, do what David did—encourage YOURSELF in the Lord!
A Good Word
Proverbs 12:25 “Heaviness in the heart of man makes it stoop: but a good word makes it glad.” Sometimes all it takes to lift a friend out of their funk (depression, slump) is to offer a word or two of positive encouragement. “Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.” (Proverbs 16:24) “There is that speaks like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health.” (Proverbs 12:18) “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.” In other words, when something is spoken beautifully, at the right moment, it is likened to a valued work of art. (Proverbs 25:11) “Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart: so does the sweetness of a man's friend by hearty counsel.” (Proverbs 27:9) “A man hath joy by the answer of his mouth: and a word spoken in due season, how good is it!” (Proverbs 15:23) If you bring good news or an encouraging word to someone, that person is uplifted. But it doesn’t stop there. By being the bearer of this word or news, you too experience joy! It is so wonderful when the right word(s) is spoken at the appropriate moment. The followers of Jesus Christ should seek God’s Spirit to guide them as they attempt to minister words of help to strangers, family and friends. When Christians do this, they then can say with the prophet Isaiah, “The Lord GOD has given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary.” (Isaiah 50:4)
By David Cosma, July 4, 2013
