Message by:
Pastor Jeff Kellogg
Covenant Church
Shepherdstown, WV
Breaking Free of Depression
Psalm 42:5,11
Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.
I. The Question
A. Surface problems
- Lack of self-acceptance (appearance, intelligence, capabilities, temperament, gender, race, nationality)
- Loss of something treasured (possessions, relationships, respect, unmet expectations, personal health, security, etc)
- Feelings of guilt (over past sins, ongoing bad habits)
- Unjust treatment (lack of appreciation, insults, injuries, abuse)
B. Root problems
1. Earthly value system
John 16:33
I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.
2 Corinthians 4:16-18
16So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. 17For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, 18as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.
2. Moral impurity
Genesis 4:6-7
6The LORD said to Cain, “Why are you angry, and why has your face fallen? 7If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is for you, but you must rule over it.”
3. Bitterness
Jonah 4:2-4
2And he prayed to the LORD and said, “O LORD, is not this what I said when I was yet in my country? That is why I made haste to flee to Tarshish; for I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and relenting from disaster. 3Therefore now, O LORD, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live.” 4And the LORD said, “Do you do well to be angry?”
C. Root cause
| God’s offer/command | Our wrong response |
| 1. Let me be your treasure | NO, I will pursue what makes me happy and content |
| 2. Let me forgive you | NO, I’m doing nothing wrong; I will decide what is right for me, or NO, that’s too easy, I will work harder to be deserving of God’s favor |
| 3. Let me administer justice | NO, I will do the punishing myself |
D. No apparent cause
II. The Answer
A. Preach to your soul v.5,11
B. Hope in God v.5
C. I shall again praise him v.5
D. Remember God and past worship v.4,6
E. Believe in God’s control over your circumstances v.7
F. Trust in his steadfast love even when discouragement persists v.8
My Next Steps
- I will read and meditate on Psalm 42 this week.
- I will ask God to reveal any root causes in my life for persistent discouragement.
- I will preach to my soul this week when discouraged.
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