Let The Bible Refresh You! by Saijd Masih

Let The Bible Refresh You! By Saijd Masih When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. (Psalm 34:17-18) When you feel overwhelmed by your circumstances, as if you are being crushed beneath the load of the troubles you are experiencing and you don’t know where to turn, David teaches us that God hears the prayers of His people. Not only do we have the promise that God will hear us when we cry to Him for help, we read that God comes alongside those who are downcast and depressed and saves them. He does this by giving them Himself. His grace is the answer to our pain. Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God. (Psalm 42:11) In this verse, we see that David is in a depressed and sad condition. He describes his soul as “downcast” and “disturbed.” Rather than remaining in his depressed condition, he engages in self-talk to help himself get out of his funk. When we find ourselves in a depressed state, self-talk can be a good way to fight our way free. Not just any self-talk will do, however. It must be self-talk that recognizes God as our reference point and Savior. We can know that our downcast state is temporary because God is our hope. Answer me quickly, O Lord! My spirit fails! Hide not your face from me, lest I be like those who go down to the pit. Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love, for in you I trust. Make me know the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul. (Psalm 143:7-8) In this Psalm, David feels lost and helpless and on the edge of death. He feels a sense of desperation that only God can help him to overcome. Rather than wallowing in his misery, however, he cries out to God, looking to Him for guidance, trusting that He will help. [If you're feeling depressed, remember that you're not alone. God is with you always. Don't be afraid to reach out to people in your family, your church, or your friend circles. Ask them to pray with and for you, and continue to pray each day, asking God to draw you closer to Himself.] Let us pray. ‘O Lord God, Life has become such a struggle and I find that my faith in You is being seriously challenged, but Lord, I know that Your Word says that You are there for me all the time, and that You would never leave me to struggle alone. Please help me to turn my thoughts to You every single time this black depression tries to descend upon me. Please bring to my mind those Scriptures that tell the truth of Your love and grace. Be with me Lord, at those times when doubts of Your love for me rise up in my mind, and help me to reaffirm in my heart all that You have done for me, throughout my life. When my faith is threatened by those negative thoughts that say that You could never love me, let me remember that You loved me so much that You died to save me and have clothed me in Your perfect righteousness. When assurance in my salvation and eternal security starts to waver, help me to recall that You loved me so much that You sent Your only begotten Son to die for me and pay the price for all my sins and help me to reaffirm the truth in my heart. Thank You, Lord, for Your great love for me. When I find myself wandering far from You and little murmurings rise in my heart, that You can’t love me as much as other people because things are so difficult in my life, prevent me from dwelling on such lies which come from the pit, and help me dwell on You. You alone are good and gracious and faithful and true. And Lord, when depression is set to invade my peace, help me to claim the promise that Your grace is sufficient for me, and help me to trust You in all things. Thank You, Lord. I love You Lord. In Jesus’ Name I Pray…. AMEN “The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” (Deuteronomy 31:8) But those who trust in the LORD will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint. (Isaiah 40:31) For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:38-39) For with you is the fountain of life; in your light do we see light. (Psalm 36:9) “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33) “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” (Matthew 6:33) But you, O Lord, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head. (Psalm 3:3) “The LORD makes firm the steps of the one who delight