Coming out Like Gold

It seems as if everyone goes through some down time or even a level of depression at some point. I'm no doctor and I've been an incredibly positive person for the biggest part of my life so it's not only difficult for me to understand what that person is feeling, it's difficult for me to give advice.

I suppose it's not really smart on my part to come up with answers to questions on my own. So instead, I turn to the ultimate doctor and the ultimate guidebook: God and the Bible.

At first thought, I struggled to come up with examples of dealing with depression in the Bible. But some of the Bible's greatest figures dealt with it. Abraham wanted a son. Jonah was so depressed that he begged God to end his life. Job suffered more than any, losing his riches, his home and his family. Elijah struggled with the death of all the prophets. Jeremiah is often called the weeping prophet as he prophesied to Israel and no one ever listened. Even King David, a man after God's own heart had trying times and wrote about them in many of the Psalms.

This shows me that no person, no matter how great or small, faithful or unfaithful, can avoid falling into a rut and having trouble getting out. Looking at these names, though, it seems that each man came through the trying times because they trusted in God and because God had something big in store for them. Just think about the way God used these individuals to perform miracles and spread the word to nations. Trust is without a doubt rewarded.

Proverbs 3:5-6 says "Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths."

Several blogs back I wrote about waiting on the Lord. This applies here too. Isaiah told us as much; “But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint."

There are times when God places us in difficult situations. Why? I'm not totally sure. Maybe its a test. Maybe He's sending a message. Maybe its to help us grow. Maybe its to help us overcome other issues. Regardless, God never gives us more than we can't handle. He knows our limits. And above all, no matter what the trial, if we trust in the Lord, we will grow stronger through it. Just like an athlete training. We won't get stronger without hard work. Paul even tells us to rejoice in times like this. It's an opportunity to focus not on ourselves but to turn our focus toward Him.

Sometimes I've looked at it as God pulling us closer. It's the troublesome times when we realize we can't stand on our own two feet and have to lean on Him. Through every hill there is a valley and God will guide us through and we'll be better for it when we get to the top again.

"But God knows the way that I take, and when He tested me. I will come out like gold (Job 23:10)."

One of my favorite parts of the Bible is when Elijah went to the mountain and there was a mighty wind, an earthquake and a fire but God wasn't in those. He came in a still, small voice. The mightiest presence came in the most subtle way. Sometimes when there are troubles we are consumed by those troubles. When it comes to this, maybe we can focus on looking and listening for God, instead of looking at the trouble.