DEPRESSION
Depression: “A serious mood disorder involving a loss of interest and pleasure.”
All the bells and whistles of modern society aren’t enough to remove the plague of depression that is smothering millions. A staggering 49,449 people in America died by suicide in 2022! Generations of kids have been reared in a culture of entertainment and have never been more depressed. The experts will tell you, “Depression is the most prevalent mental health disorder.” (American Association of Suicidology). This kind of sorrow is a spiritual poison that is produced by sin.
“Many sorrows shall be to the wicked…” – Ps. 32:10
“God distributeth sorrows in His anger.” – Job 21:17
“Mine eye also is dim by reason of sorrow, and all my members are as a shadow.” - Job 17:7
“For I am ready to halt, and my sorrow is continually before me.” - Psalm 38:17
“For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.” - 1 Tim. 6:10
Depressed sinners pay a visit to a local Doctor and are immediately prescribed antidepression medication. They leave with empty promises that everything is going to get better as they begin consuming mind-altering drugs (Jer. 6:14). Meanwhile, these people don’t feel right about taking the weird medication! This compels them to suddenly get off the drugs repeatedly in a battle for sanity. It is then that the dark nights of hopeless despair grow blacker and longer (1 Sam. 16:14-15). Time itself seems to torment the heartsick people! Why? They feel trapped in an unending cycle of misery. Therefore, sadly, these same people often end up killing themselves hoping to find relief from the suffocating presence of sorrow. One person dies by suicide every 40 seconds! According to the World Health Organization, a staggering 700,000 people worldwide die by suicide every year!
“Therefore I hated life; because the work that is wrought under the sun is grievous unto me: for all is vanity and vexation of spirit.” - Eccl. 2:17
“For all his days are sorrows, and his travail grief; yea, his heart taketh not rest in the night. This is also vanity.” - Eccl. 2:23
“…the sorrow of the world worketh death.” - 2 Cor. 7:10
Salvation from sin is the only solution to the problem! Only the Gospel of Jesus Christ can heal the pain of badly hurting sinners. Only the free grace of God can transform the minds, hearts, and souls of sinners (2 Cor. 4:6, 5:17). “The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up.” (Matt. 4:16). Immediately, when the face of Jesus Christ begins to shine upon lost souls, sinners are brought out of the dungeon of despair and into the glorious presence of God! A strong chorus of happy saints has borne witness of this heavenly experience for generations.
“And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.” – Isa. 35:10
“Behold, for peace I had great bitterness: but Thou hast in love to my soul delivered it from the pit of corruption: for thou hast cast all my sins behind Thy back.” – Isa. 38:17
“The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in Him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise Him.” - Psalm 28:7 (Ps. 19:8, 119:111)
“Thou hast put gladness in my heart...” – Ps. 4:7, 16:9
“…in Thy presence is fulness of joy; at Thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.” – Ps. 16:11 (Jn. 17:13)
“Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see Him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:” – 1 Pet. 1:8
The salvation of the soul will put an end to all the loneliness. The Face of God will illuminate the darkness. When those who are separated from God are finally reconciled to God, they will then experience the peace and rest that heaven is offering to weary souls who are burdened by sin. This can be your testimony if you repent and believe in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
