If you’ve followed along with my story, you already know I have times I find myself in the throes of depression. It’s a battle I’ve fought and won at times, and one I’ve lost at others. But when I feel I’ve lost the battle, God reminds me I haven’t lost the war. For even when the light shines dimly, God is there lighting the way to a brighter day.
I could ask the darkness to hide me and the light around me to become night— but even in darkness I cannot hide from you. To you the night shines as bright as day. Darkness and light are the same to you.
Psalms 139:11-12 NLT
If I look at depression as darkness, and I read this verse again, what I see is me feeling hidden, not able to see God or find hope. But God sees me! He sees me in my victories and when I feel defeated.
The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.
So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.
John 1:5, 14 NLT
John talks about Jesus in two important ways in these two verses. One, Jesus light cannot be extinguished by darkness, or for our context — by depression. My depression may sit heavily on my mind like a storm cloud, blocking my view of the sun, but the storm will pass and the sun will continue to shine. And two, Jesus is full of unfailing love and faithfulness. His love and faithfulness act as lifelines in the storm of depression.
Unless the Lord had helped me, I would soon have settled in the silence of the grave. I cried out, “I am slipping!” but your unfailing love, O Lord, supported me. When doubts filled my mind, your comfort gave me renewed hope and cheer.
Psalms 94:17-19 NLT
Here are a few more verses about his light and unfailing love.
The people who walk in darkness will see a great light. For those who live in a land of deep darkness, a light will shine.
Isaiah 9:2 NLT
Your unfailing love will last forever. Your faithfulness is as enduring as the heavens.
Psalms 89:2 NLT
Feelings can skew our perception of what is true. Under the weight of depression you may feel alone or abandoned, life can feel like it’s too much, or you may feel you are not enough. It’s in times like these we need the reminder of who God is in the midst of our despair.
And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:38-39 NLT
I had experienced a condemning voice in my head — masquerading as the voice of the Lord — telling me what I should and shouldn’t be doing, when I realized the Holy Spirit would never speak to me that way. I remembered the name of my enemy as the accuser and shut down those thoughts. I still couldn’t hear God at that moment, but I knew enough not to listen to those lies. Depression can give a foothold to the enemy of our souls. We become vulnerable. But listen to this —
My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; he is mine forever.
Psalms 73:26 NLT
God loves you and is faithful to be there in your darkness, his light can never be extinguished.
Grace & Peace,
Sandy