"Look Up"

How tired, so tired I couldn’t stand,

Exhausted by what was unplanned,

Surprised I couldn’t understand,

   And swept away belief.

Weak and weary, down for the count,

Too depressed by that amount,

Of obstacles I can’t surmount,

   And could not find relief.

The darkest night of any soul,

If you’ve been there then you’ve been told,

Deepest valley, black as coal,

   You cannot make it end.

Look up, child, just look up now,

You may not understand just how,

No more pain will God allow,

   Your broken heart He’ll mend.

You ask me why these words I say,

Pointing to the Good Lord’s way,

And can we really be okay,

   It’s ‘cause I have been there.

Many people ask the same,

When God’s hope at long last came,

Telling them in Jesus’ name,

   You’re safe with Jesus’ care.

“Help me, O Lord my God; save me in accordance with your love…” (Psalm 109:26, NIV)

When we cry out to God He hears us and comes to our rescue. Jesus is described as a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. What this means is that He has gone through everything that we experience, yet without sin. The scriptures also tell us that Jesus bore all our griefs, and by His stripes we are healed. When we say Jesus is the ultimate answer for depression, we are speaking the truth in love. Healing can be a long process, but it is possible through the grace of God.

Lord, lead us out of the dark places, in Jesus’ name.

Art by Ken Steinnerd, used by permission. Thanks, Ken, and God bless you.