"Down"

It’s a low-down, dirty place to live,

When the bottom’s way up there,

And I wouldn’t even mention it,

Or feel the need to share.

But there are people out there,

Who feel this way right now,

And maybe if I say it,

It will help somehow.

Good stuff doesn’t feel that good,

Bad stuff is too bad,

The worst things are unbearable,

Feelings real I’ve had.

And I’m not a fearful person,

But one thing still scares me,

Those old despairing feelings,

Sometimes won’t leave me be.

One good friend described it,

As wearing concrete shoes,

By that he meant it’s heavy,

When you have the black-heart blues.

Some old saints described it,

As the dark night of the soul,

The valley of death’s shadow,

It tries to take control.

I guess what I am saying,

Is that you’re not alone,

If you’re underneath it,

And sad down to the bone.

Others have those feelings,

People you can trust,

You can overcome this,

But get help, that’s a must.

 And yes, the Good Lord loves you,

He will not let you go,

It’s not about how strong your grip,

But only His, you know.

And there is lots of life left,

And good things in God’s plan,

He is always faithful,

Our lives are in His hand.

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

We believe God can lift people out of depression. But it’s not enough to quote scripture and tell people we will pray for them. People who are struggling need real help from people who understand depression. Sometimes a prescription is needed, and there is no shame in that. Sometimes people need extensive counseling to uncover the underlying reasons for how they feel. Often a support group is beneficial, as well as accountability partners. But, back to divine help. It’s really there, and makes all the difference. As a beginning step, just ask the Lord for help. Then, immediately pick up the phone and call a trusted friend. If you have suicidal feelings, call 9-1-1. Now. If you have no pastor, and need one, call me at: 251.345.3939.

Lord, deliver us from depression, in Jesus’ name.

Art by Bruce Greene, brucegreeneart.com. Used by permission. Thanks, Bruce, and God bless you.