The Light in Our Darkness

The statics concerning depression are eye-opening:

The statics concerning depression are eye-opening:

300 million people around the world have depression, according to the World Health Organization

16.2 million adults in the United States—equaling 6.7 percent of all adults in the country—have experienced a major depressive episode in the past year

10.3 million U.S. adults experienced an episode that resulted in severe impairment in the past year

It’s estimated that 15 percent of the adult population will experience depression at some point in their lifetime.

It is a growing epidemic in our country, as a matter of fact; major depression is the leading cause of disability in Americans between the ages of 15 and 44 years old.

One source claimed: “Statistics show that (depression) diagnoses are growing at an alarming rate.”

Depression does not only affect adults, consider the most recent depression statistics in children and adolescents:

3.1 million young people between the ages of 12 and 17 have experienced at least one major depressive episode in the past year in the United States.

2 to 3 percent of children ages 6 to 12 may have serious depression.

19.4 percent of adolescent girls have experienced a major depressive episode.

6.4 percent of adolescent boys have experienced a major depressive episode.

70 percent of adolescents who experienced a major depressive episode in the past year, experienced a severe impairment. (parents, this is one reason you don’t let your children watch shows like 13 Reasons Why—shows that suggest suicide is an acceptable way of escape for depression)

60 percent of children and adolescents with depression are not getting any type of treatment.

19 percent of children with depression saw a health care professional for treatment.

2 percent of children with depression were treated with medication alone.

If you know anyone who’s ever suffered through depression, or if you have been through it, you know what a difficult thing it is to endure.

Depression is defined as a deep sense of despondency, discouragement and sadness, often linked with a sense of personal powerlessness and a loss of meaning in and enthusiasm for life.

Depression among believers is not something new; it’s been around for a long time.

Unfortunately, the church as a whole has not handled the reality of depression well—as a result, there are a few prevailing opinions among believers concerning depression…

Some will say that depression is caused only by sin and therefore can only be treated by repentance and faith. While it is true that believers who are in sin can become depressed by their sin, it is not always true that sin is the cause of all depression.

Some will say that depression is for the spiritually immature. When you grow in Christ and in the knowledge of the word you will not struggle with such emotions. These people obviously haven’t read much of the Old Testament:

Today we are going to continue our series Storm Warning: Lessons From the Life of Job —and we are going to see a man who was, without any doubt, depressed.

In just a few moments we are going to begin working our way through chapter 19, but before we look at why Job was depressed, I want to read to you one of the most well-known passages from the book of Job:

Job 19:23–27 ESV

23 “Oh that my words were written! Oh that they were inscribed in a book! 24 Oh that with an iron pen and lead they were engraved in the rock forever! 25 For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the earth. 26 And after my skin has been thus destroyed, yet in my flesh I shall see God, 27 whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold, and not another. My heart faints within me!

Job 19:23-

Job 19:25–27 ESV

25 For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the earth. 26 And after my skin has been thus destroyed, yet in my flesh I shall see God, 27 whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold, and not another. My heart faints within me!

The passage we just read gives us a powerful truth...

There is always light in our darkness.

Please don’t miss this, for those who are saved (meaning those who have trusted Jesus Christ alone as Lord Savior and have been forgiven of their sins and rescued from the judgment and wrath of God), there is always light in our darkness.

Yes, believers can be and often do experience depressive episodes.

Yes, those who follow Jesus experience difficult times and can feel as if there is no hope.

Yes, some of your brothers and sisters in this room today struggle with depression just like you struggle with depression.

But with Christ there is always hope—there is always light in our darkness.

This is why the book of Job is so powerful and studying it is so necessary today—because the book of Job teaches us that the purpose of storms is not to destroy your view of God but to deepen your trust in God—even when you are battling through depression.

Look at

In order to understand the power of verses 25-27, we need to understand what was driving his depression.

Job Motivation of Faith

Henry Morrison and his wife were faithful missionaries on the continent of Africa during the mid-to-late 1800s. They had served on the mission field for forty years. In fact, they had never returned to the States until this particular voyage which signaled the end of their fruitful and dedicated missionary service. As the steamer headed into New York Harbor they had wondered if anyone would remember them or come to greet them.

Henry and his wife stepped to the railing of the ship’s upper deck and were astounded to see hundreds of people lining the dock, waving banners that announced WELCOME HOME! There were ribbons and banners and balloons everywhere as smiling people waved and cheered while the ship was towed to the dock. Henry’s heart almost leaped out of his chest and he turned to his wife and said, “Sweetheart, the believers have remembered us … so many have come to welcome us home.”

Unknown to them, sequestered in private quarters hidden from the rest of the passengers’ knowledge, Teddy Roosevelt was onboard. He had been on a big game safari in Africa and was returning to the States. The banners and balloons were for him. The press had leaked the news; the waving, cheering crowd was there to welcome home the President of the United States.

Henry and his wife, along with all the other passengers, were detained from disembarking until the president and his entourage left the steamer, all the while the Marine Corps Band blaring, “Hail to the Chief.”

Henry Morrison said, “It just doesn’t seem right that we’ve served the Lord so faithfully for these forty years. We’ve served in anonymity, but we’ve been faithful to God. Teddy Roosevelt goes to Africa to shoot some elephants and the whole world welcomes him home. It just doesn’t seem right that we come home and there is no one to even greet us.”

Henry’s wife looked up at him and gave that now-famous response: “But Henry, we’re not home yet. We’re not home.”7

One author wrote,

If we were given all we wanted here, our hearts would settle for this world rather than the next. God is forever luring us up and away from this one, wooing us to Himself and His kingdom where we will certainly find what we so keenly longed for.8

Job was depressed, but not necessarily because he had suffered so much loss (even though he had lost everything—his wealth, his children, his servants, his reputation, and any influence he once had). Job was depressed because...

Job felt trapped.

Job 19:

Job 19:6–8 ESV

6 know then that God has put me in the wrong and closed his net about me. 7 Behold, I cry out, ‘Violence!’ but I am not answered; I call for help, but there is no justice. 8 He has walled up my way, so that I cannot pass, and he has set darkness upon my paths.

Let me tell what Job was saying—he believed that God had wrongly judged him. Job believed that he was experiencing undeserved punishment from the hand of God.

To Job, it was as if he was caught in a net and could not escape.

To Job, it was as if he was being walled in and he could see no way out.

To Job, it was if he was living in perpetual darkness with no light to show him were he needed to go.

There is something frightening about the darkness, isn’t there?

I’m not talking about sleeping is a dark room. I’m talking about being put in a place where there is no light to be found. There are no light switches. There is no light creeping through the cracks of the door. There is no light spilling through the break in the curtains.

How many of you remember the blackout of 2003? I’m not sure how the Columbus metro area was affected—but nearly every home in Metro Detroit lost power—including our home.

I’ll never forget the eeriness of that night. There were no lights we could turn on in the house. There were no street lights. There were no lights in our neighbors homes. The entire neighborhood was dark.

So, we laid there in the stifling heat and humidity of August-unsettled by every noise and counting down the hours and minutes until the sunlight would break over the horizon, and chase away the feelings of fear and dread.

There is something frightening about the darkness. Most of you have probably been through a time of darkness in your life. Maybe its been career-related. Maybe its been family-related. Maybe its been financial or some other factor has caused you to feel as if you are trapped in darkness and you wondered how you were going to make it through.

If you’ve been there, you can relate to how Job was feeling.

Job understood that he was not in control—that he could not change his circumstances—that he could not get out from under what he believed was the heavy hand of God’s unrelenting anger.

Job was completely and utterly hopeless because he felt trapped and because...

And because Job felt oppressed.

Job felt oppressed.

Job 19:9–12 ESV

9 He has stripped from me my glory and taken the crown from my head. 10 He breaks me down on every side, and I am gone, and my hope has he pulled up like a tree. 11 He has kindled his wrath against me and counts me as his adversary. 12 His troops come on together; they have cast up their siege ramp against me and encamp around my tent.

Again, you see that Job is talking about someone doing something to him—in other words, Job was saying that God had done all these things to him.

Job said that God had taken his self-esteem and any sense of personal worth he once had.

Job felt sub-human. Job felt like he had nothing to offer anyone in this life. Job felt like a burden to anyone who knew him.

Why?

Because he had been broken down on every side—his life had been systematically and totally demolished—much like enemy armies would tear down the wall of the city they were invading.

If that’s not bad enough, Job said his hope had been pulled up like a tree.

Now, if a wall is torn down, it can be rebuilt.

But what happens when a tree is uprooted?

A few weeks ago one of people who lives next to CrossPointe’s property called and said that one of our trees had fallen into her yard and she asked if we could do something about it.

I told her I would go take a look. Now, I was expecting to see a small tree that would be easy to take care of.

This is what I found (show picture).

That tree was huge! Now, can you imagine if we called a bunch of people from the church, gathered them together and then tried to stand the tree up where it once stood? Is there any chance that would work?

No!

It wouldn’t work because the tree had been uprooted. The tree had been torn from the ground and the only way we could deal with it was to cut it up and remove it—piece-by-piece from our neighbor’s yard. What is left of that tree will most likely be burned in fire pits and furnaces this fall and winter.

Job was saying his hope was like that tree—it was gone and there was no chance it would ever come back.

But the picture gets even more grim. Job believed that God counted him as an enemy and had gathered his armies to destroy Job—who was not like a great city, but a tent.

There is a little humor here--

Listen, the picture Job was painting—God’s assault on Job would be like us dropping a B83 nuclear bomb—the largest in the entire US arsenal, on a one man tent in the middle of the wilderness.

No wonder Job was feeling oppressed. He was trapped with no way of escape and he believed that God was determined to destroy him with overwhelming rage and force.

You would think that Job would be able to find some comfort in his friends and loved ones, but...

Job felt alone.

Job

Job 19:13–19 ESV

13 “He has put my brothers far from me, and those who knew me are wholly estranged from me. 14 My relatives have failed me, my close friends have forgotten me. 15 The guests in my house and my maidservants count me as a stranger; I have become a foreigner in their eyes. 16 I call to my servant, but he gives me no answer; I must plead with him with my mouth for mercy. 17 My breath is strange to my wife, and I am a stench to the children of my own mother. 18 Even young children despise me; when I rise they talk against me. 19 All my intimate friends abhor me, and those whom I loved have turned against me.

Job believed God turned the people of the city against him. His relatives and close friends wanted nothing to do with him. The servants he didn’t lose ignored him. His very presence disgusted his wife and his siblings. Even children mocked him—something that did not happen in a culture where elders are highly revered and respected.

And then he looks at his closest friends—his counselors and he said that the very people he loved have all turned against him.

Listen to what Job said about his closest friends...

Job 19:1–3 CSB

1 Then Job answered: 2 How long will you torment me and crush me with words? 3 You have humiliated me ten times now, and you mistreat me without shame.

,

Job 19:5 ESV

5 If indeed you magnify yourselves against me and make my disgrace an argument against me,

Who could Job turn to? Who could Job count on? Who would be friend—a comforter—a brother to Job when he desperately needed someone to show mercy and compassion?

Here is the answer—Job had no one.

Job was entirely alone and the people around him only made things worse.

Can you see why Job was depressed? Can you see why his depression was not only the result of losing so much?

Have you ever felt trapped, oppressed, or alone?

Have you struggle with depression born of those feelings?

Earlier I said this passage teaches us that there is always light in our darkness and I want to show you where you can turn to find light when you need it most.

Job 19:25-

Job 19:25–27 ESV

25 For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the earth. 26 And after my skin has been thus destroyed, yet in my flesh I shall see God, 27 whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold, and not another. My heart faints within me!

This is an amazing statement of faith from a man who had no reason to have any faith at all.

The fact that he uttered these words in the midst of such deep depression and despair is a gift of God’s grace to every believer who is struggling through a rough patch on their journey.

Let me teach you why this is a gift to you this morning—if you are in Christ you can live with and enjoy a confidence that no circumstance or situation can ever destroy.

Notice the words of Job—I know—I’m confident—I’m absolutely certain! That’s quite a statement when everything about Job’s life had become uncertain.

First, you can live with confidence. Notice the words of Job—I know—I’m confident—I’m absolutely certain! That’s quite a statement when everything about Job’s life had become uncertain.

Yet Job made a powerful declaration of faith—I know!

What makes this confidence so potent?

Because Job’s confidence or his faith was not in faith alone—his faith was in someone—look at what Job said, I know my Redeemer.

Martin Luther used to say that the meat of the gospel was found in the pronouns.

Job was not making a statement about some cosmic being Job did not know. Nor was Job making a statement about a god that did not know him.

Job leaned into his personal relationship with the God he knew, loved and served.

So there was a personal relationship but there was also a powerful expectation—Job said, I know my Redeemer.

The title Redeemer tells us what Job actually believed about God. Did Job believe that God had brought all of this suffering on him—yes.

But he also believed that his only hope was for God to step in as his Redeemer.

In Old Testament Jewish culture and society there were people—relatives who would fill a role known as a Kinsman Redeemer.

A Kinsman Redeemer was someone who could buy a relative out of slavery.

A Kinsman Redeemer had the right to defend a relative in court.

A Kinsman Redeemer could marry the widow of a near relative and give her a future and a hope (Ruth and Boaz).

Don’t miss what Job is saying—Job was looking to God, his Redeemer, to set him free from bondage, defend his name and honor, and give him a future and a hope.

So Job was confident because he had a personal relationship with God and he was trusting God to be his Redeemer because he knew that his Redeemer was alive and God alone would stand as the victorious champion.

Job said, I know my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the earth.

Job’s hope wasn’t in some inanimate object. Job’s hope wasn’t focused on some impotent statue. Job’s hope was tied to a living Savior.

Charles Spurgeon applied this text to his audience, preaching, “Spring on this rock, man! If you are struggling in the sea just now, and the waves of sin and doubt beat over you, leap on to this rock—Jesus is alive.”

Not only was Job’s redeemer alive, but Job saw Him as one who stood in victorious triumph when all is said and done and Job was confident that one day he would see God.

You see, Job did not believe that he was headed only to his death. He believed—in the midst of this terrible depression—that he was headed for ultimate deliverance.

Now, let me tell you how all of this helps you when you are going through depressive episodes or when life is tough.

The things I’m about to give you won’t fix you when you struggle, but one of the things that makes depression so powerful is feeling of hopelessness. David, the shepherd-king of Israel dealt with depressive episodes throughout his life. Listen to his counsel:

Psalm 42:11 ESV

11 Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.

When depression hits, don’t forget to focus on and hope in God because when you do...

You can live with confidence knowing that you have a relationship with God through Jesus Christ. God loves you and is with you—even in the lowest valley of your life.

You can live with assurance knowing that you have a Redeemer who is living and active in your life. He stands before you. He pleads for you. He understands everything you’re going through and He has promised you a future and a hope.

Hebrews 7:25 ESV

25 Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.

You can live with expectation knowing that one day you will be fully and finally delivered from the struggles of this life because—as a follower of Jesus Christ, you are headed for your ultimate deliverance. Life is hard—then comes everlasting joy.

Psalm 30:5 ESV

5 For his anger is but for a moment, and his favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning.

Psalm 30:5 ESV

5 For his anger is but for a moment, and his favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning.

Brothers and sisters, we are not headed for death, but deliverance when we will enjoy the complete victory of our Redeemer, Jesus Christ.

Job Motivation of Faith

Henry Morrison and his wife were faithful missionaries on the continent of Africa during the mid-to-late 1800s. They had served on the mission field for forty years. In fact, they had never returned to the States until this particular voyage which signaled the end of their fruitful and dedicated missionary service. As the steamer headed into New York Harbor they had wondered if anyone would remember them or come to greet them.

Henry and his wife stepped to the railing of the ship’s upper deck and were astounded to see hundreds of people lining the dock, waving banners that announced WELCOME HOME! There were ribbons and banners and balloons everywhere as smiling people waved and cheered while the ship was towed to the dock. Henry’s heart almost leaped out of his chest and he turned to his wife and said, “Sweetheart, the believers have remembered us … so many have come to welcome us home.”

Unknown to them, sequestered in private quarters hidden from the rest of the passengers’ knowledge, Teddy Roosevelt was onboard. He had been on a big game safari in Africa and was returning to the States. The banners and balloons were for him. The press had leaked the news; the waving, cheering crowd was there to welcome home the President of the United States.

Henry and his wife, along with all the other passengers, were detained from disembarking until the president and his entourage left the steamer, all the while the Marine Corps Band blaring, “Hail to the Chief.”

Henry Morrison said, “It just doesn’t seem right that we’ve served the Lord so faithfully for these forty years. We’ve served in anonymity, but we’ve been faithful to God. Teddy Roosevelt goes to Africa to shoot some elephants and the whole world welcomes him home. It just doesn’t seem right that we come home and there is no one to even greet us.”

Henry’s wife looked up at him and gave that now-famous response: “But Henry, we’re not home yet. We’re not home.”7

One author wrote,

If we were given all we wanted here, our hearts would settle for this world rather than the next. God is forever luring us up and away from this one, wooing us to Himself and His kingdom where we will certainly find what we so keenly longed for.8

Home is not here … it’s over there.

Job Motivation of Faith

Henry Morrison and his wife were faithful missionaries on the continent of Africa during the mid-to-late 1800s. They had served on the mission field for forty years. In fact, they had never returned to the States until this particular voyage which signaled the end of their fruitful and dedicated missionary service. As the steamer headed into New York Harbor they had wondered if anyone would remember them or come to greet them.

Henry and his wife stepped to the railing of the ship’s upper deck and were astounded to see hundreds of people lining the dock, waving banners that announced WELCOME HOME! There were ribbons and banners and balloons everywhere as smiling people waved and cheered while the ship was towed to the dock. Henry’s heart almost leaped out of his chest and he turned to his wife and said, “Sweetheart, the believers have remembered us … so many have come to welcome us home.”

Unknown to them, sequestered in private quarters hidden from the rest of the passengers’ knowledge, Teddy Roosevelt was onboard. He had been on a big game safari in Africa and was returning to the States. The banners and balloons were for him. The press had leaked the news; the waving, cheering crowd was there to welcome home the President of the United States.

Henry and his wife, along with all the other passengers, were detained from disembarking until the president and his entourage left the steamer, all the while the Marine Corps Band blaring, “Hail to the Chief.”

Henry Morrison said, “It just doesn’t seem right that we’ve served the Lord so faithfully for these forty years. We’ve served in anonymity, but we’ve been faithful to God. Teddy Roosevelt goes to Africa to shoot some elephants and the whole world welcomes him home. It just doesn’t seem right that we come home and there is no one to even greet us.”

Henry’s wife looked up at him and gave that now-famous response: “But Henry, we’re not home yet. We’re not home.”7

One author wrote,

If we were given all we wanted here, our hearts would settle for this world rather than the next. God is forever luring us up and away from this one, wooing us to Himself and His kingdom where we will certainly find what we so keenly longed for.8

Home is not here … it’s over there.

There is always light in our darkness.

The Light in our darkness is our Redeemer who is alive and one day we will see Him and we will stand because He stands.

So have hope!