Depression & The Soul's Response to Truth

A Devotion by Dan Guinn

Depression touches so many lives. In 2007 the Archives of General Psychiatry estimated that 10% of Americans (Approximately 27 million people) are on antidepressants. Furthermore, over one million of these people are treated each year with Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) or electro-shoch therapy are cases of severe major depression. The problem has reached epidemic proportions.

Depression is not just a gloomy or melancholy feeling but a struggle that incapacitates the person suffering, and I do mean suffering. At many times the Christian church has failed to understand this problem, but we should be clear that from the statistics above we can see that the medical and psychiatry fields have had their own failures and difficulties with diagnosing and treating the problem, as the problem is truly epidemic and has definitely increased from these statistics in 2007.

The very first thing we should understand is that Christians are not immune to depression and that the issue should not be quickly dismissed. It is a real problem, requiring real answers. At different points in my life, myself and those around me have encountered what might be termed as depression. One very close member of my family was completely incapacitated for a good time. I myself, have had periods of deep hurt and incapacitation. I personally struggle with diabetes, which studies has shown can cause physical reasons that make you prone to lapses of depression. Yet those who know me, know that I have learned to constantly rely on my spiritual relationship with God to assist me in overcoming these battles.

Secondly we should understand as Christians that the struggle should not be quickly categorized as distinctly a spiritual issue, and yet it should not be assumed to be merely a physiological or medical issue either. We should remember that our bodies and minds, although physical, touch the spiritual realities as well. They operate in union, they are connected. When we experience physical events in the real world, they do have spiritual impact. Another way to explain this is to contemplate Christ incarnation. Why did Christ come in bodily form to teach us spiritual lessons? Why did Christ communicate to his people in audible language that we as persons can understand? Couldn’t God just speak from all eternity and we all just know all the lessons we need? He could have, but this would not fit His character. God is personal, humble and sacrificial, and He chose to send His Son to physically impart truth to mankind in physical form. Thus, we can see that there is a real body/soul connection that God is using for His purposes to teach us.

Thirdly to this discussion, we must also acknowledge that in fact, some of the most prominent persons in scripture probably suffered with depression. This is something that we should cherish about the Bible. It does not just tell us the soft warm and fuzzy story of God’s people, but instead portrays real people, with real struggles. We see the “Biblical heroes” with all of their warts, and none of it is hidden. No other book does this quite like the Bible!

As you might know, King David, the “man after God’s own heart,” was plagued with this sort of suffering. Here are some quick verses that depict David’s deep laments.

“My tears have been my food
day and night,
while they say to me all the day long,
“Where is your God?” Ps. 42:3

“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.” Ps. 42:5
(repeated again in 42:11, and 43:5)

There are many more verses that show us this, but we can also look at key points in David’s life, times when he was idle and seemingly paralyzed. Times that caused great destruction in his life due to inactivity. His sin with Bathsheba was facilitated by his not taking his place in war with his armies, instead he was idle at home (2 Sam 11:1). He was idle in responding to Amnon’s rape of Tamar (2 Sam 13), as well as Adonijah’s attempt to usurp his throne (1 Kings 1), late in his life. All these seem to point to symptoms of depression in David’s life, and these are just a few.

However, there is another side to the story, the side of Truth and it’s impact on David’s soul. Listen to his words!

“Send out your light and your truth;
let them lead me;
let them bring me to your holy hill
and to your dwelling!
Then I will go to the altar of God,
to God my exceeding joy,
and I will praise you with the lyre,
O God, my God.” Ps. 43: 3-4

It is the light of God’s Truth that overpowers the ailing soul. Even in the midst of physical struggles that are causing depression, the heart can respond to truth and build up a person from the inside out. I tell you this from personal experience (although my experience is not as extreme as some others I know who this has brought healing to), that as I have waited on the Lord to assist me in my state of mental incapacitation on more than one occasion. The answer seems almost too simple, and it is very profound, yet it is the answer none the less. The reading and teaching of the Word of God to one self is a way out of the darkness. It is the pinpoint of light in the distance. As the mind is directed to acknowledge the Truth, the soul is uplifted and the body can respond substantially. As I get to the top of the pit, my feet begin to move, I being to to run! This is what is happening spiritually so to speak, and physically I am working on eating right and being active, consulting the doctor, and providing for the needs of the body that in turn can assist my mind with clarity. Thus with that clarity, I further teach and preach to myself the Word of God all the more until I begin to break free! I am teaching it the Truth, I am teaching it with all of the strength I have at the time as David did, saying to my soul... "Hope In God!"

The Truth says:

• “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Matt. 11:28.

The Truth says:

• “But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. 2 Cor 4:7-10

This is a precious promise! Our sufferings are for His purposes, to make us like Him... and we will not be destroyed! Hereby we preach to ourselves the victory and the soul will in turn respond if we continue to wait, read, teach ourselves and pray! As we find more strength we then respond with our whole body to move forward and break free as much as is possible. Remember what God said to Cain in the garden?

“The Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry, and why has your face fallen? If you do well, will you not be accepted (or in the Hebrew will there not be a lifting up [of your face])? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is for [against] you, but you must rule over it.” Gen 4:6-7

Perhaps this is where you are. Perhaps you are in the pit right now looking up. All of the natural things are telling you it’s hopeless. Yet, we all must remember that there is substantial help in this life before Christ returns. God’s Truth is real and His Truth is applied by His Holy Spirit. Pray to Him for assistance, ask Him to work on your behalf like He did for David over and over in his life. Ask and act as He instructs, read and pray, and then you will witness your soul’s response to Truth!

[A special thanks to my pastors Tony and Nathan for their teachings on this subject that have inspired and edified me. redeemer-pca.org]

The Heart's Response To Truth

The Heart's Response To Truth
A Devotion By Dan Guinn

In my last devotion, Spirituality Engaging the Heart & Mind, I discussed the role of the mind in our spiritual life. We learned that the mind is very active in our spirituality. We learned that we do not need just “heart-felt” spirituality, but also “mind-felt” spirituality. Here are a few verses that were used, that will now serve as a base moving forward in an understanding of the heart’s response to truth.


"You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind." - Matthew 22:37

"You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. "

"For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace." Rom 8:6

"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." Rom 12:2

Each of these verses speak of setting our mind on the things of God. We must always remember that it is not only about “thinking," but thinking and pondering truth with a capital T, or as Schaeffer said, “True Truth.” The way this begins always starts with the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Remember the promise of the Lord to the disciples.

“I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.” John 16:12-15

This Holy Spirit is at work to guide us into all Truth! This is cause for rejoicing. We ought to Celebrate! You no longer walk in pitch-black darkness, groping in the night trying to find your way. You no longer stumble in blindness, fending for yourself and falling into continual tragedy. You no longer dwell in confusion, but you have real answers that defy all the obstacles of life before you. There is substantial victory!

Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12

I think sometimes we as Christian’s get used to hearing certain phrases and they no longer hold the strength of meaning that they truly deserve. This is not just some random evangelistic phrase we are hearing from the Lord. He is the light of the world and we will not walk in darkness! This should overwhelm us like the healing hand of Christ’s touch on the blind man. “One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see.” (John 9:25b) We ought to be shouting this from the rooftops! “I now have understanding! Now I am free!”


So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:31-32

With truth comes substantial freedom, and freedom from bondage is always cause for rejoicing!

The phrase I quoted, “One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see,” was from the story of the man born blind at birth found in John chapter 9. In this chapter Jesus finds the man and there are questions as to who was responsible for his blindness. Was it the sins of his parents? Jesus indicates that it is not their sin, but that this illness is for God’s purposes, as Jesus says, “that the works of God might be displayed in him.”

Now what Jesus is saying here is that this message is for the confirmation of His prophetic message as a sign. In just the chapter before the Pharisees were arguing with Jesus about his “witness,” questioning His credibility. Jesus now is solidifying His authenticity by following the will of His father and performing miracles at the appropriate time. This miracle is in fact confirming the actual canon of Scripture and bringing the light of truth to the dark world. Listen to what Jesus said next.

“We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” John 9:4-5

Immediately after this Jesus makes mud with his saliva, and places this on the blind man’s eyes. How weird is that? Well, it has important meaning in the context we are speaking. He purposely is breaking the Pharisee view of the Sabbath. According to them, He just did work, He made mud. Jesus is actively educating by highlighting a gray area of their strict and ungracious view of the Mosiac Law and pushing on it. This action is all about bringing light on their darkness. Yet since He is healing, there is tension between their idea of the Law and their understanding of the witness to His prophetic authority. He is either a law-breaker or a prophet, He cannot be both. A law breaker, by healing on the Sabbath, or a prophet evidenced by his healing the blind man.


So a huge controversy erupted, witnesses where called, the man’s blindness was questioned and verified. Finally, the man is put out of the church. Note that this is no small thing. This is a disciplinary action, he is to be considered an apostate from the Law of Moses. He is being put out of the church, and for what reason?

There seems to me to be at least four reasons, of which are hinged on the man’s newly found understanding and light.

Calling the man who healed him a prophet.

+ Confession of Faith - Consider the impact of this event on the formerly blind man’s life. It was transformational, it was confessional.
+ So they said again to the blind man, “What do you say about him, since he has opened your eyes?” He said, “He is a prophet.”

For blatantly provoking the priest.

# Boldness & Innocence - Now that he had attained sight and understanding, he was willing to risk all to keep it. This made him bold to the point of being willing to even provoke the priest who absurdly where attacking him, yet he was innocent as a dove in this remark.
# Can you image this? You have been blind all of your life and a man heals you and now that you see the priest are badgering you over politics? Seriously?

They said to him, “What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?” He answered them, “I have told you already, and you would not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become his disciples?” And they reviled him... John 9:26-28a

Calvin says something quite wonderful in his commentary on this passage:

“It is an astonishing display of freedom, when a man of mean and low condition, and especially liable to be reproached on account of his poverty, fearlessly provokes the rage of all the priest against himself. If that which was nothing more than a small preparation for faith gave him so much boldness, when he came to the struggle...This question is likewise ironical; for he means by this that they are prompted by malice, and not by sincere desire for truth, to press him so earnestly to reply to this fact.” John Calvin, Calvin’s Commentaries, Vol XVII, pg 384

Because he now sees

+ Truth to stand on - Consider that the priest did not know where Jesus came from, but the blind man knew He came from God.
+ “Why, this is an amazing thing! You do not know where he comes from, and yet he opened my eyes...” John 9:30b

Because he now worships Jesus

+ Truth that brings one to his knees.
+ Finally, after this trial of sorts is adjourned, Jesus meets the man again after hearing that he had been excommunicated. Jesus ask him right away if he believed, and after explanation the former blind man confesses, “Lord, I believe!” and worships Him in the presence of the all. His expression of joy and thankfulness are no doubt implied.

Ultimately, the heart’s response to Truth in the life of the believer should always be this way. Truth transforms like light into a dark room. When you truly see, you can’t help but respond with confession. You have to tell others. You have to help others see. You have answers for others. You become bold in resting in those answers and the one who gave them because you can truly see like never before! You realize you can stand on it. You realize that it’s real, and that it makes sense. Finally, Truth ultimately brings joy, thankfulness and worship for the one who gave it. Truth ignites passion and sets the heart on fire. It brings about action.


I am reminded of the verse that describes the two disciples that walked with Jesus after His resurrection.

“They said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?”

Real Truth is in Jesus Christ alone, He is Truth, He should be the passion of our heart.

What is your heart’s response to Truth?

ARTICLE: DISCOVERING VALIDITY

I KEEP SAYING VALIDITY!

I keep using the term "validity" because, I want people to understand that spirituality comes with proof test. It is not some ethereal trip, out-of-body experience, or mind trick as some propose. It is real, connected with reality, and makes sense of our world.

HOW CAN YOU REALLY VERIFY WHAT YOU CAN'T SEE?

This always seems to come up when I explain that spirituality needs verification. Understand that seeing is never the absolute for proving that something exist. Think of the air you breath, you can't see it without some special equipment, but you know it's there by how your body responds to it. You also know what happens when your body is without it. The same is true of spirituality. You can read a verse about it, if you like here.

SO, WHAT PROOF TEST?

You might have missed it from before. Have you every thought about the term "world-view?" If you are not living a spiritual life that makes sense of your world, you will find yourself living in contradiction, plain and simple. The proof test for spirituality is simply, can my view be verified as valid by giving answers to all of the primary questions of life without contradiction?

FOUR EASY QUESTIONS:

Here are four easy questions to test your world view.

• Where did I come from?
• What is the purpose?
• What is right and wrong?
• Where am I going?

Christianity is the only system that I have found that adequately and reasonably answers these four questions of origin, meaning, morality, and destiny. These questions make sense of my world. Other systems invariably conflict or deny the questions altogether. Think about it, how does your view hold up? I would love to hear about it, whether you agree with me or not.