"Bottom"

Down here at the bottom,

I’ve been there many times,

I’ve wandered far and lonely,

And heard the devil’s lines.

He said you are a loser,

It’s what you’ve always been,

Others will do better,

But you are all done in.

Said I was really worthless,

Disappointed one and all,

Whenever there’s a blessing,

You ruin it when you fall.

I guess I couldn’t argue,

With anything he said,

I’d felt it and I knew it,

Be better off if dead.

And he was in agreement,

Death would be the way,

To relieve all the heartbreak,

Make everything okay.

But then I had a moment,

Recalled what Jesus said,

The thief wants to destroy you,

He’s messing with your head.

And there came just a glimmer,

A tiny ray of hope,

That maybe I could climb out,

If I held Jesus’ rope.

And, damn, I’ve done some sinnin’,

But His blood covers all,

Jesus picks up losers,

If on Him they call.

And those who know the ruin,

Of their visions and their dreams,

And forfeit every blessing,

Or that’s the way it seems,

Can come up from the bottom,

Their depression cannot win,

The grip of grace is stronger,

Then the pull of where they’ve been.

So if you’re on the bottom,

Or if the bottom’s way up there,

The devil is a liar,

And Jesus does still care.

Look up for the answer,

Don’t listen to the lie,

God is there to help us,

So give another try.

“He lifted me out of the pit of despair…” (Ps. 40:2, NLT)

If you’ve been there you know how bad it can be. Depression is a hard beast to fight, and threatens the best of us. Some of the greatest Christian men and women I know, or have read about, admit to “the dark night of the soul.” Our enemy uses it to sabotage our calling, steal our peace, dim our vision, and undermine our faith. Truth is, God is bigger than how we feel. Sometimes counseling is needed. I am not against the use of medication to bring relief, particularly if used as part of an overall strategy to resolve underlying issues. But the bottom line is that the Lord, by the power of His Spirit, can lift the burden of despair from our shoulders and lead us into a new place of joy. If you’re struggling, I encourage you to talk to someone you trust, and don’t fight the battle alone. Jesus is Lord of this, too.

Lord, deliver us from our despair, in Jesus’ name.

Art by R.S. Riddick, used by permission. Thanks, Mr. RIddick, and God bless you.