O God, Why Me?(Struggling with Depression)

What triggers depression?

It is different for everyone but some common triggers are:

1-childhood experiences.

2-other mental health problems.

3-physical health problems.

4-genetic inheritance.

5-medication, recreational drugs and alcohol.

6-sleep, diet and exercise.

7-Life Events

How can my childhood experiences make me depressed today?

The author of Psalm 88, Heman is one of those in the shadow heroes of the Bible. His wisdom is compared to that of Solomon and in 1 Chronicles 25:4-5 we find he was blessed by God. “As for Heman, from his sons: Bukkiah, Mattaniah, Uzziel, Shubael and Jerimoth; Hananiah, Hanani, Eliathah, Giddalti and Romamti-Ezer; Joshbekashah, Mallothi, Hothir and Mahazioth. All these were sons of Heman the king’s seer. They were given him through the promises of God to exalt him. God gave Heman fourteen sons and three daughters.”

But in the only Psalm attributed to him we find one of the only complete downer Psalms and he relates it back to his childhood.

Psalm 88 NIV84

A song. A psalm of the Sons of Korah. For the director of music. According to mahalath leannoth. A maskil of Heman the Ezrahite. O Lord, the God who saves me, day and night I cry out before you. May my prayer come before you; turn your ear to my cry. For my soul is full of trouble and my life draws near the grave. I am counted among those who go down to the pit; I am like a man without strength. I am set apart with the dead, like the slain who lie in the grave, whom you remember no more, who are cut off from your care. You have put me in the lowest pit, in the darkest depths. Your wrath lies heavily upon me; you have overwhelmed me with all your waves. Selah You have taken from me my closest friends and have made me repulsive to them. I am confined and cannot escape; my eyes are dim with grief. I call to you, O Lord, every day; I spread out my hands to you. Do you show your wonders to the dead? Do those who are dead rise up and praise you? Selah Is your love declared in the grave, your faithfulness in Destruction? Are your wonders known in the place of darkness, or your righteous deeds in the land of oblivion? But I cry to you for help, O Lord; in the morning my prayer comes before you. Why, O Lord, do you reject me and hide your face from me? From my youth I have been afflicted and close to death; I have suffered your terrors and am in despair. Your wrath has swept over me; your terrors have destroyed me. All day long they surround me like a flood; they have completely engulfed me. You have taken my companions and loved ones from me; the darkness is my closest friend.

It isn’t just one thing, it seems like everything that makes me depressed(Mental healthiness)

upsetting or stressful life caused by such things as bereavement, divorce, illness, redundancy and job or money worries just mount up

Hymnal #701

In this Psalm we can see the author going back and forth between these types of triggers and the only answer to resolution:

What is that resolution:

The big three that you may want to personally look at:

Physical health Problem: (See the book of Job , genetic (see Ecclesiastes ), “Recovering: From Brokenness and Addiction to Blessedness and Community” by Aaron White

When Life just gets you down! (Depression from Life Events)

Elijah had just come off from one of the most miraculous events in the Bible. He had defeated 450 prophets of Baal on Mt Carmel. God had miraculously burned the sacrifice and Elijah had not just defeated but eliminated all 450 prophets. Now we see that Ahab and Jezebel weren’t very happy about this so put out a contract on his life and he flees to Mt Horeb

And we find Elijah, man of God, miracle worker in mid flight:

1 Kings 19:4 NIV84

while he himself went a day’s journey into the desert. He came to a broom tree, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.”

The he fell asleep and an angel of the Lord came and touched him, fed him, gave him a drink and he then traveled for 40 days and nights to Mt. Horeb.

Question:

Does that mountain ring any bells for anyone?

Where you are focused is where your attitude will be

2 Corinthians 4:16–18 NIV84

Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.