Depression: Looking Up from the Stubborn Darkness (28 page)

Noticing joy in the true, noble, right, pure, and lovely.
Knowing that joy comes from God, we are freed to take joy in the things he has blessed. He is the God “who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment” (1 Tim. 6:17). “Everything” good can produce quite a list.

Eating, drinking, working (Eccles. 5:18–20)

God’s law (Ps. 19:8)

Bearing his name (Jer. 15:16)

Love and unity that points others to the divine lover (John 15:11–12; 1 John 1:3–4)

Faith and obedience in others (2 Cor. 7:4; Phil. 1:25; 3 John 1)

A cheerful look (Prov. 15:30)

Justice (Prov. 11:10)

Wisdom in others (Prov. 10:1), and the ability to offer wisdom and comfort to others (Prov. 15:23)

Comfort given to those you love (2 Cor. 7:7)

People knowing Christ (1 Thess. 2:19)

Receiving salvation (1 Pet. 1:8)

Joy in others (2 Cor. 1:24)

The list can be endless: the laughter of children; the honoring of the righteous; the perseverance of the depressed, persecuted, or infirm; the pouring out of God’s Spirit evident throughout the world.

Notice that many objects of joy are other people and their Christlikeness. If God says that creation is good and we can enjoy it, how much more can we enjoy people, the part of creation that
he proclaims “very good”? If God takes delight in you and others, then you can as well.

The L
ORD
your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing. (Zeph. 3:17)

Present-day life is complicated. There is misery now but great hope for the future. God has already begun the renewal that will take place, so there are opportunities for joy today, not just when eternity arrives.

As you look for joy, you have access to a double pleasure. You will find joy in Christ and what he has done, and you will find joy in sharing God’s joy.

A few years ago, my wife asked me to read one of her favorite books. When I finally read it, the book was a pleasure. I enjoyed its content and the way it was written. That, of course, happens any time we read a good book. But since I knew that this book had been a joy to my wife, my enjoyment had an added dimension. It brought a kind of unity that comes when people share the same delights. Not only did I enjoy knowing my wife’s joys better, but I actually shared her joy.

My wife has interests that I don’t share as passionately, and I am glad that she has them. I am blessed by them. But it is one thing to be happy for my wife when she experiences something especially joyful, and it is another to share in it. It creates a bond and a mutual understanding that are joys in themselves.

This is the double delight of joy. We enjoy what God has given us, and there is a bond—a knowing smile—that we share with him as we participate in his joy. True joy comes when we learn to enjoy the things that God enjoys.

Joy takes practice. Study joy in the Psalms. Psalmists didn’t even know the details of Jesus’ love, but, with their glimpses of God’s love, they had joy and gladness. If you are willing to look for joy, the psalmists can lead you to it. The goodness of God is shot through creation and the church, so joy is always possible. When you can’t see it, return to the cross and appreciate the beauty of what Jesus did. Appreciate the beauty of his sacrifice—his willingness to become like us and give up everything. Appreciate the beauty of his love. Just behold it. Admire it.

Or consider Job’s joy that he didn’t deny his God in the midst of unrelenting pain. You could apply this by considering specific ways to love other people. Then take joy in the Spirit working within you.

God’s splendor ascends over the sorrow of life. Joy is possible. Choose to become an expert in it. After all, joy is not something evanescent. What you will taste is “everlasting joy” (Isa. 35:10). It is here to stay, and the day is coming when those who know Jesus will be known by their joy. Believe it or not, you are becoming a joyous person. You
will be
a joyous person.

Some say that joy is the serious business of heaven. But don’t think that this is just for the sweet by-and-by. The kingdom of heaven began with power when Jesus came, so you can get into the family business even now.

Jazz musicians have understated their musical art by saying, “There are only twelve notes you’re messing with; just play them all and make sure you end on the right one.” When faced with depression, Scripture’s musical score includes many more than twelve notes. For sheer breadth and depth, it is without equal. Its wisdom is layered and dense. But sometimes it can seem like too much, and every time you try to follow through on a biblical truth you get lost.
Mary Had a Little Lamb
suddenly becomes an atonal composition with no discernible direction. You have completely botched it. When this happens—and, to be sure, it will—just try to keep playing and end on the right note.

The Psalms are your model.

But I trust in your unfailing love. (Ps. 13:5)

I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the L
ORD
in the land of the living. Wait for the L
ORD
; be strong and take heart and wait for the L
ORD
. (Ps. 27:13–14)

The L
ORD
’s unfailing love surrounds the man who trusts in him. (Ps. 32:10)

When you read a letter from someone whose love is very important to you, your heart can rise and fall many times. In one paragraph you think you have found an expression of tenderness; in another it sounds like ordinary news or possible hints of dissatisfaction with you. Then you get to the final words.

“Warmly” is what a brother or sister would write. Many writers can casually end a letter with “Love.” But the final words of this letter are, “I love you.” They are unmistakable. Although you don’t understand how or why, you are clearly the object of this person’s affection. For the rest of the day you are changed by the memory of those final words. People notice a bounce in your step or hints of vitality that were missing the day before.

When you feel lost or confused, get to these final words. The fact that Jesus Christ came to earth to die in our place is his resounding “I love you.” Since his love is dependent on himself rather than on you, you are not in danger of being unloved on those days when you feel utterly faithless. In fact, at those times his love will be even more surprising and precious because you will remember that this extravagant love is undeserved and unearned.

Your own heart has much to say, but let Jesus have the final word.

“Grace” is the shorthand. In that one word, God takes us out of ourselves and turns our attention onto him, the One who showers forgiving love on us even when we don’t realize all he has forgiven. It is brimming with promises and guarantees. No wonder the apostle Paul began almost every letter with “Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ” (Gal. 1:3). And it was his pleasure to end the same way: “May the grace of the Lord Jesus
Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all” (2 Cor. 13:14).

In your battle with the manifold features of depression,

Grace
to you.

3:1
52

3:4
52

26:24
134

29:20
64

37–50
29

50:20
29

16
134

16:2
140

16:8
140

17:2
140

32:9–10, 14
142

11:44
75
,
141

19:2
75

20:8, 26
75

6:5
110

8:2
121

31:6
134

2:6–7
28

17:36
110

1
95

1:21
34

1:22
241

6:10
241

6:11
85

38:3–11
182

38–42
57
,
182

40:4
56

7:10
131

13:1
43

13:5
249

18:2
131

19:8
245

21:6
244

22
44
,
45

22:6
43

22:24
45

22:26–28
46

23
131

27:4
227

27:13
233

27:13–14
249

32:3
9

32:5
169

32:10
250

42:5–6, 11
84

43:4
244

46
136

46:7, 11
136

51:8
245

55:4–7
44

56
136

56:3
136

57:4–5
136

59:9–10
131

62:8
47

62:11–12
85

63:1
74

69:2–3
44

69:7
79

81:10
39

86:15
145

88
47

88:3, 6, 13–14
44

88:18
5

96:10–13
244

106:4–5
244

107:1
239

118:29
239

119:54
6

119:67, 71
211

119:71
70

121:4
132

126:1–2
237

126:6
38

130
61
,
65
,
115

136:1
239

139:23–24
125

4:23
109

6:16–19
141

8:13
141

10:1
245

11:10
245

13:12
148

15:23
245

15:30
245

19:11
145

20:10
141

1:2–3
68

3:8
142

5:18–20
245

12:13
69

1:18
142

30:15
170

35:10
247

40:1
184

41:10
135

44:24
228

44:32
243

45:7
28

49:14–16
135

53:3
37

53:10
36

54:8
142

55:1–3
39

62:6–7
47

9:23–24
163

15:16
245

17:5–8
110

3:23
239

7:14
43

11:8–10
79

5:27
150

1:2
150

4:1
151

4:2
152

4:3
151

4:8–9
151

6:8
71

3:17
246

2:16
142

4
49

4:1
122

5–7
131

6:9
74

6:9–13
146
,
163

6:21
110

6:24
110

7:3–5
144

8:23–27
240

12:34
109

18:12–14
164

18:15–16
145

18:21–35
145

20:29–34
240

22:37–39
71

28:20
135

3:5
142

4:30–32
155

7:34
37

8:31
37

10:14
142

14
36

14:1
36

1:44
244

6:27–31
143

6:45
109

12:7
132

12:22–34
132

15:11–24
115

6:29
40
,
57

8:44
50
,
110
,
143

13
145

14:16–18
135

15:8
155

15:11–12
245

16:8
62

17
114

1:16–17
170

1:21
110

1:21–23
110

5:3
81

5:3–4
216

5:7–8
64

8:22
81
,
243

8:28
75

8:29
211

8:32
39

10:20
155

13:8
146

15:4
84

15:5
85

1:20
99

1:23
99

1:26–28, 31
163

2:2
73

3:23
185

6:20
185

10:13
154
,
183
,
184
,
241

15:3–5
55