From Calvary Chapel of Roswell

Pastor Jim Suttle

Msg #470                       Wednesday, August 15, 2007

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Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression,

But a good word makes it glad. (Pr 12:25)

Anxiety causes depression.   It is a simple statement of fact.  When we are anxious – worried, stressed out and apprehensive about the future – it taxes our heart and weighs it down.  Thus – when we are anxious – it leads to a season of depression.  

Maybe today has found you in such a season – you have been anxious over some issue and now you find yourself emotionally drained…depressed. 

Maybe today someone around you is in such a season.  You find yourself wondering what to do, what to say. 

Let me give you some simple counsel from this verse.

Anxious depression is normal!   I love the Bible – it is so real – God tells us the truth.  Sometimes Christians think they should never face such normal feelings – but that is neither Biblical or true.  Anxiety leads to depression – it is normal!

What we need in such a season is a good word.   What is a good word?

A good word is not condemnation.   We have a spiritual adversary – Satan – and Rev 12 tells us his incessant activity is to accuse and condemn believers.  In a season of depression – recognize such a word as an attack from the enemy.  When someone is in such a season – don’t add to the depression by beating them up with accusations.

A good word is not necessarily a solution.   When we are depressed or when we know someone is depressed – we often think we need to solve the problem to make things better.  But this is not so and is often not possible.

A good word is a true word.  Make sure that when you seek a solution to this depression or when you offer a word – that it is true.  Job tells us that when his comforters came to him – the had advice that was not true – and therefore was not helpful.

How then can you comfort me with empty words,

since falsehood remains in your answers?” (Job 21:34)

A good word is an encouraging word.   The idea is to seek to give someone hope, confidence or courage.

A good word is a God word.  Jesus said “No one is good but One, that is, God” (Mk 10:18).   The best remedy to a depressed heart – is a word from God, from God’s Word that secures, gives hope and help.

A good word is often a simple, known truth.  It is here where I really want to pull this together.  This good word does not have to be some major revelation, some huge truth you unpack for someone.  Most often, what is helpful – is a simple truth held forth to the one in this anxious state of depression. 

I heard an illustration the other day that helped me.  It pointed out that in a pitch black room – a 2 watt bulb changes everything.  The idea is this – when the world seems all black – in the darkness of depression – a simple, small but solid truth – changes everything.      

Today – I pray, God’s word ministers to your heart and makes it glad. 

Jim

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