A Solution for these Depressive Times.

A meditation on Psalm 77.

In these difficult times men's hearts are failing them for fear. Fear of losing their jobs, fear of noo finding a job, fear of losing their homes, fear of being unable to support their families.

Many are in depression over their situation. The writer of Psalm 77, Asaph, was also depressed over his situation. We can find the same solution to our depressive mood today as he did in his day.

Psalm 77 (NIV)

For the director of music. For Jeduthun. Of Asaph. A psalm.
1 I cried out to God for help;
I cried out to God to hear me.

2 When I was in distress, I sought the Lord;
at night I stretched out untiring hands
and my soul refused to be comforted.

3 I remembered you, O God, and I groaned;
I mused, and my spirit grew faint.
Selah

4 You kept my eyes from closing;
I was too troubled to speak.

5 I thought about the former days,
the years of long ago;

6 I remembered my songs in the night.
My heart mused and my spirit inquired:

7 "Will the Lord reject forever?
Will he never show his favor again?

8 Has his unfailing love vanished forever?
Has his promise failed for all time?

9 Has God forgotten to be merciful?
Has he in anger withheld his compassion?"
Selah

10 Then I thought, "To this I will appeal:
the years of the right hand of the Most High."

11 I will remember the deeds of the LORD;
yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago.

12 I will meditate on all your works
and consider all your mighty deeds.

13 Your ways, O God, are holy.
What god is so great as our God?

14 You are the God who performs miracles;
you display your power among the peoples.

15 With your mighty arm you redeemed your people,
the descendants of Jacob and Joseph.
Selah

16 The waters saw you, O God,
the waters saw you and writhed;
the very depths were convulsed.

17 The clouds poured down water,
the skies resounded with thunder;
your arrows flashed back and forth.

18 Your thunder was heard in the whirlwind,
your lightning lit up the world;
the earth trembled and quaked.

19 Your path led through the sea,
your way through the mighty waters,
though your footprints were not seen.

20 You led your people like a flock
by the hand of Moses and Aaron.

Look at the Asaph's condition in his situation. He was "in distress...my soul refused to be comforted...I mused, and my spirit grew faint...I was too troubled to speak."

Today we might term this a low level depression. Consider that this righteous soul was calling to God for help, he was seeking the Lord. Yet as he remembered, he "groaned; I mused in my spirit and grew faint." This is not a statement of faith, but of doubt. He is considering his circumstances and groaning over them, he calls out to God in this doubt.

He writes, "Where are you God? Will you reject me forever? Will you never show your favor again? Has your unfailing love vanished forever? Has your promise failed? Are you no longer merciful? Are you so angry at me that you have withheld your compassion from me?"

Asaph in the midst of his depressive groaning can only see his troubles and has turned from faith in God. His thoughts are on the "former days, the years long ago; I remember my songs in the night." He was thinking about the "good ole days" of the past comparing them to the present " bad days".

Many today are doing the same thing. We think that in former days we had jobs, we had a secure mortgage, we were assured our company would continue to employ us, not down size and lay us off, and we partied, singing our songs of joy into the night. We think on those days and compare them to today and our spirits grow faint within us. We cry out to the Lord, "Why me God? Why did you allow me to lose my job? Why God, is my house being foreclosed on? Why is my company downsizing? Where are you God in all my distress?

Asaph finally finds the solution to his depressive mood. "Then I thought, to this I will appeal." He is kind of saying to himself, "Wait! Stop this foolish musing and groaning! I have an appeal, a hope, a light at the end of this dark tunnel!"

What was the hope of Asaph? The goodness and great deeds of the Lord.

"To this I will appeal: the years of the right hand of the Most High." The "right hand of the Lord" or Most High, is used to express the goodness and blessings of God. Asaph goes on to remember the former days when the Lord did great miracles for Israel.

"I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago. I will meditate on all your works and consider all your mighty deeds."

Now Asaph is thinking in faith. He has stopped musing over his present situation and comparing it to the good ole days. Now he is thinking of the faithful deeds of the Lord.

Instead of crying out, "Will the Lord reject forever?" He says, "Your ways, O God, are holy. What god is so great as our God? You are the God who performs miracles; you display your power among the peoples, the descendants of Jacob and Joseph."

Asaph goes on to recount the display of God's great power in the parting of the Red Sea, and how God led Israel through the Sea as a shepherd leads his flock.

Let me recommend this same solution to us today. Instead of musing over our present difficulties, let us remember the might deeds and miracles of our Lord. Let us trust in Him who has shown Himself faithful in the past. Instead of meditating on our problems, let us meditate on all of God's works.

Meditate on God delivering Israel out of four hundred years of bondage in Egypt. Meditate on God's great deeds as recorded in all the history of Israel. Consider that if God kept them in all their difficulties, he can keep us in these present difficult times.

Let us meditate on the miracles of Christ and his great works of redemption for us.

Let us meditate on the great works of God in our own lives and those we know. Let us consider that as God has carried us through our own past difficulties, He will carry us through these present times as well.

This is a good spiritual discipline, an exercise that will build our faith in God and can relieve our depressive mood. When we think on our present difficulties, let us remind ourselves of the goodness of God and trust in Him.

By meditating on the miracles and mighty deeds of God, we will better be able to face these days, with a strong faithful trust in God, rather than depressive musings.

May the Lord bless you and keep you in peace in your inward man, and pour out his grace on you that you may trust Him in all your ways.