Dark Night of the Soul

SLIDE 1 Pre-Introduction

· Prayer Requests

Introduction - Downcast - Finding Hope in Depression

Downcast (Depressed)

Dark Night of the Soul Despair Demoralization

Doctor

physical Doctor - Mental Illness – Chemical Imbalance Suicidal – Get Help Pray for them especially

MEMORY VERSE:

SLIDE 2

2 Corinthians 7:6 (ESV) — But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us…

SLIDE 2 Psalm 42:5 (ESV) — 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…

· Being Downcast is as much SPIRITUAL as it is Mental!

SLIDE 3 Ps. 88. 1-7 – Last Week - Demoralization

Demoralization - It is characterized by a combination of distress and subjective incompetence

SLIDE 4 Ps. 88. 8-12 – This Week - Despair

Despair is understood broadly as “an entire want of hope.”

SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION · “Remember, Red, hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things, and no good thing ever dies. I will be hoping that this letter finds you, and finds you well.” · Hope is a dangerous thing. Hope can drive a man Insane. --"Red"

SLIDE 5 Dark Night of the Soul Ps 88.9-18

is often used informally to describe an extremely difficult and painful period in one’s life

Roman Catholic brothers and sisters In his book, Dark Nights of the Soul, the psychotherapist and former Catholic monk, Thomas Moore, makes an important observation. He writes, “The dark night calls for a spiritual response, not only a therapeutic one.” Psychiatrictimes.com

For nearly 50 years, Mother Teresa endured what the church calls a “dark night of the soul” — a period of spiritual doubt, despair and loneliness that many of the great mystics experienced, her namesake St. Therese of Lisieux included. In Mother Teresa’s case, the dark night lasted most of her adult life — an almost unheard of trial. -APNEWS

o Almost no one knew this until AFTER she died

SLIDE 6 1 Kings 19:1-8 (on screen is VERSE 4)

The Month of January for Rob

SLIDE 7 The Problem:

· Does God Hear my Cry (Lament)? YES

o Psalm 88:2 (ESV) — 2Let my prayer come before you; incline your ear to my cry!

Will I ever experience Hope again?- Jesus raised from the dead

Psalm 88:10 (ESV) — Do you work wonders for the dead? Do the departed rise up to praise you? Selah Will I ever be able to be to experience Intimacy with God again?

o Psalm 88:14 (ESV) - O Lord, why do you cast my soul away? Why do you hide your face from me?

SLIDE 8 - 1 Kings 19. 9- 14 (On Screen -19:11–12)

SLIDE 9 Finding Hope when DOWNCAST – Job 1-3, 42

· Use Downcast Handout

· SLIDE 10 – Pursue Christian Counseling

SLIDE 11 Finding Hope when Downcast