This is the story of depression- a true dark night of the soul. Anyone who knows the pain of depression can instantly find truth in these words- the wrestling with thoughts, the deep sorrow from morning till night, and the constant feeling of defeat. This is the experience of more people than we (meaning the American public) are willing to admit. At any given moment, more than one out of every twenty adults in our country are battling depression. The median age for someone in depression is 32. Many of these cases go untreated (all statistics from http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/the-numbers-count-mental-disorders-in-america/index.shtml).
What is the Christian view on depression? Is it human weakness, or sin? Is it a condition brought on by demonic attack? Or is it a condition of the mind, body and spirit which brings people into their darkest days? I would believe that depression can best be defined by the latter. And the acknowledgment of darkness within us is an important part of our spirituality. After all, this psalm written by David became a part of the worship life in Israel.
It would be easy to read the end of this psalm as "times may be tough, but just smile through it and pull yourself up and keep going!" Yet that flies in the face of what the psalm says. What the psalm really says is that the worshipper, although in deep darkness, is going to rest on God and God's salvation. The word that is often used for salvation in the Bible rests between a meaning of rescue and healing, both things that people going through depression long for. And we have a solid hope in a rescuing, healing God. That's why the worshipper can still sing of what the Lord has done for him or her. Not out of false happiness, but out of true hope.
Very well said Andy!
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