When you feel like giving up, God can pull you back from the edge and restore your hope.
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Navigating Depression: Hope for Heavy Hearts – This humble booklet is by no means a comprehensive study of depression; rather, it is a collection of reflections and lessons that Joni has learned in her long battle against the thick fog of dark emotions. It’s her hope that the following insights will help equip you to be more than a conqueror in your fight to find emotional and mental health.
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SHAUNA: Be honest, friend, are there times when you almost feel like giving up? If so, Joni can identify.
JONI: Maybe it happens to you when trials rip through your sanity like a whirlwind or depression lingers like a low-grade fever. Or it could be the insistent nagging of chronic pain. Or the dismal everyday routines that don’t change; how ‘bout that? They wear you down; they don’t seem to get you anywhere. When this stuff happens, you feel empty, hollow; and it wouldn’t take much to tip you over the edge into a dark depression, right? It happened to me the other night. As a quadriplegic, my husband Ken must position me on my side with pillows so I can sleep. I could tell that pain was on the rise, and knowing that I would not be able to adjust myself, my breathing got shorter. And so, before lights out, I whispered to Ken, “Ken, pray I won’t lose faith.” And I meant it. He stood over my bed and prayed. I knew that ahead of me was a long, dark night. And I was almost pushed to the edge. Almost.
Aren’t you amazed at how often you feel yourself almost at the end of things? A festering sore, a pinched nerve, the slow ticking of the clock, or the terror of feeling all alone in your struggle. Like me when paralysis and pain nearly overwhelm me. It drains almost all hope out of my heart. Almost. And you’re the same. You could have a winsome, confident smile and a bounce in your step. Your faith is strong, your calling’s clear, and you rarely miss an opportunity to tell others about Jesus. You could be the picture of assurance and strength and resolve. But then the untimely death maybe of a loved one, or a catastrophic injury, or your finances go south, and it almost takes you out of the battle. Almost.
Depression is an enemy which will, time and again, push you to the point of “almost.” Almost giving up. Almost at the edge of yourself. The edge of your faith; the edge of hope. Depression is, I think, Satan’s most powerful tool when it comes to pushing you past that line. On the other side of that edge is deep depression; over that edge is hopelessness. And I’ve been there – I’ve felt despair because of my quadriplegia; I’ve wanted to end it all because of my wheelchair. But here is a fact: nobody wants to go there, let alone live there. And that’s why that word “almost” is so hopeful. Because you are not at the end of things. You might be almost at the edge, but you can still step back. You might be almost out of the battle, but you can still get rescued. You could almost want to end it all, but there’s still a chance at life. You can recover when you are at the edge. Through the promises of God, the Holy Spirit can grip your heart, change your mind, realign your emotions, and pull you back from that awful edge.
I like to think of God like a Shepherd who reaches over the edge of a cliff to rescue that sheep almost lost to this world. So, if you find yourself near the edge of almost giving up, look deeper into the goodness of the Lord. There are steps you can take from going over that edge. They are tried steps; they’re true methods from God’s Word.
SHAUNA: And friend, Joni talks about all this in her booklet called Navigating Depression, and we want to send it to you today as a free gift. Just go to joniradio.org and ask for Joni’s booklet on depression. You’re not almost done; let the Holy Spirit talk you back off that ledge. And while you’re at our radio page, remember to share this program with your friends, especially if they’re struggling. I know it’ll be a blessing to them. And God bless you today, friend. Thanks for listening!
© Joni and Friends