Demoralized

SLIDE 1 Pre-Introduction

· Prayer Requests

Introduction - Downcast - Finding Hope in Depression

Doctor - physical Doctor - Mental Illness – Chemical Imbalance Suicidal – Get Help

MEMORY VERSE:

SLIDE 2 Real all of Psalm 42.5 – then focus on:

Psalm 42:5 (ESV) — Why are you cast down [Downcast - NIV84], O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation…

Refer to Psalm 42.1 – as the Deer SLIDE 3 2 Corinthians 7:6 (ESV) — But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us…

God wants to comfort me

SLIDE 4 Ps. 88. 1-7 (Read the entire Passage, then just 1-7)

Son’s of Korah (not David) – Musicians – also wrote Psalm 42 Downcast (Depressed)

Dark Night of the Soul Despair SLIDE 5 Demoralization

It is characterized by a combination of distress and subjective incompetence

· the loss of meaning and purpose in life

· the lack of perceived social support

· a sense of being trapped and personal failure

· a cognitive attitude of pessimism, and hopelessness/helplessness.

· <https://www.psychiatrictimes.com/view/psychiatry-dark-night-soul>

My Senior Year of track - Districts

SLIDE 6 The Problem: Psalm 88:2 (ESV) — 2Let my prayer come before you; incline your ear to my cry!

· We know God heard this prayer -It became scripture!

· God hears the prayers of his Saints regardless of if they are positive or negative

Psalm 34:15 (ESV) — The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous and his ears toward their cry. 1 John 5:14–15 (ESV) — And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.

· I have lost Hope that He Hears me – Week 2 - Despair

· It does not feel like He Hears me – Week 3 – Dark Night of the Soul

· I am Not saved – accept Christ

SLIDE 7 Finding Hope when Demoralized

Memory Verses God Hears His Saints Help someone who is DOWNCAST- Mental health 1st Aid Read - Luke 24. 13-35

· Allow yourself to Lament

o Remember it was Adam & Eve – not God (Gen 2-3)

o Read the book of Job

o Read Psalms 6; 10; 13; 25; 31; 38; 42; 43; 88; 130

o Read the book of Lamentations (Circle back in the fall)

o Write a Lament (From psalmsquotes.com/lament)

(1)Address God (2)Description of Complaint (3)Request for God's help (4)Expression of trust in God

o Do something that Reminds you of the Hope that you had (examples)

I made it through the Demoralization of my failure of Districts 35 years ago – I can make it through this with God’s help Last Week – Remembering your Baptism The 2 Disciples see hope again when Jesus serves them communion - Take Communion

SLIDE 8 Finding Hope when Demoralized