Depression

What a subject! Why write on that? I found a quote in my journal that I thought I'd share. Dare I say that depression is not something I struggle with? Believe it or not, I've had ONE DAY of depression since God saved me in 1974. I've been pretty sad and desperately grieved since then, but not depressed. To skip the details and get to the point, on this ONE DAY I could NOT stop crying, and it scared me, because I like to be in control of myself and my emotions at all times!
And, how weird is this--in the midst of that uncontrollable crying, I thought to myself, I HAVE to remember how this feels, so I can help others who tell me they feel this way ALL the time. And God sent me help, and I did stop crying. But it was SCARY.

Here is Lloyd-Jones' quote from "Spiritual Depression: Its Causes and Cures":

"The main art in the matter of spiritual living is to know how to handle yourself. You have to take yourself in hand, you have to address yourself, preach to yourself, question yourself.... You must turn on yourself, upbraid yourself, condemn yourself, exhort yourself, and say to yourself: "Hope thou in God"--instead of muttering in this depressed, unhappy way, and then you must go on to remind yourself of God, who God is, and what God has done, and what God has pledged to Himself to do. Then having done that, end on this great note: defy yourself, defy other people, and defy the devil and the whole world, and say with this man: "I shall yet praise Him for the help of His countenance, who is also the health of my countenance and my God."

Good advice. He tells you your responsibility in the matter, and God's help that you need.