Sermon Tone Analysis

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-

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.

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:

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.

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?