HOW TO PRAY WHEN YOU ARE DEPRESSED

Psa. 143:4-12

Morning Meditation 8/20/2014

Verse 4-12 say, “Therefore is my spirit overwhelmed within me; my heart within me is desolate. I remember the days of old; I meditate on all thy works; I muse on the work of thy hands. I stretch forth my hands unto thee: my soul thirsteth after thee, as a thirsty land. Selah. Hear me speedily, O LORD: my spirit faileth: hide not thy face from me, lest I be like unto them that go down into the pit. Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee. Deliver me, O LORD, from mine enemies: I flee unto thee to hide me. Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: thy spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness. Quicken me, O LORD, for thy name's sake: for thy righteousness' sake bring my soul out of trouble. And of thy mercy cut off mine enemies, and destroy all them that afflict my soul: for I am thy servant.”

David is a man after God’s own heart. He was a man of praise. He wrote most of the Psalms. He is the “sweet singer of Israel.” He played instruments, he wrote songs, and he sung. God gives His people a song. A lot of us cannot express it with a wonderful voice, but it can be as meaningful to those who are not talented as those who are. It is good to sing for the benefit of another, it is better to sing unto the Lord. He is the best audience. And the best singer “can’t hold him a tune!” When our praises are to Him it ceases to be a performance in which one expects compliments.

David is singing in this Psalm. But it is not a song of victory. He is singing the blues, a song the tune to which a lot of song critics would not appreciate. But it makes no difference to God whether they like it or not. God does not ask the experts for advise when it comes to His music. (And some expose their ignorance by saying they know exactly what God likes in the way of music) Let’s notice first of all,

DAVID’S CONFESSION OF DEPRESSION

He says in verse 4, “Therefore is my spirit overwhelmed within me; my heart within me is desolate.” The way to start to get right is to admit that you are not there. Then the Lord cleanses you of not being there.

The words “my spirit is overwhelmed within me” are a confession of depression. The word “overwhelmed” translates “ataph” and means, “to be feeble, be faint, grow weak.” Gills comment on this is, “Covered over with grief, borne down with sorrow, ready to sink and fail.” David confesses that his spirit is in this condition. Have you ever heard the comment, “He has such a great spirit about him?” Well, David confesses that his spirit is very low.

Then he says, “my heart within me is desolate.” The word “desolate” translates “shamem” and means, “to cause oneself desolation, cause oneself ruin.” David complains about his enemy. Gill says that the reference here is to either Saul or Absalom. He confesses that he is not handling what his enemy is doing to him very well.

When I read the Psalms in a situation like this, I replace Saul or Absalom with Satan and the demons under his control. We are in spiritual warfare. This approach for me helps to make a good application of the Psalms. Satan is allowed to fight against the saints. God has given all we need to overcome him. But there are times that we do not handle the circumstances of life very well. Our spirit is overwhelmed within us and our hearts are caused to be desolate because of the way we are reacting to the problem. The best way to handle depression, and this does describe depression, is to confess it is there and that we are not handling it very well. The next thing we read is,

DAVID STRETCHES OUT HIS HANDS TO GOD

Verse 6 says, “I stretch forth my hands unto thee.” The words “I stretch forth” translates “paras” and means, “to spread out, to scatter.” The word scatter may mean that David is saying that he is not just holding out his hands but waving them. In other words, they may not be steady hands.

This is definitely a reference to prayer. The held out hands signify praying with expectancy. If you ask for something and hold out your hand it means that you believe when you draw the hand back it will have what you requested in it. The confession of unsteady hands may be a confession of weakness caused by depression. How many times we go to God in this condition and do not think we will get out prayers answered because we feel we are not praying with steady outstretched hands. Does God answer a prayer like this? Absolutely. David prayed and openly confessed to God that his hands were not steady, but he still prayed. The way to get right is to confess we are not. One can’t be more right with God than the cleansing blood of Christ makes us. Then next we see,

DAVID’S SENSE OF URGENCY

Verse 7 says, “Hear me speedily, O LORD: my spirit faileth: hide not thy face from me, lest I be like unto them that go down into the pit.”

He says in substance, “Lord, I need your help. I’m desperate and I need it now! Please hurry.” Gill says, “David was ready to sink, swoon, and faint away, through the weight of the affliction on him, by reason of the persecution of his enemy, and for want of the divine Presence.”

David’s perception of God is that He was no where around. Have you ever felt like that? You feel like crying out, “Where is God?” David says in Psalm 139 that there is no place where a believer can go where God is not. It is possible to be better off theologically than we are experientially. In other words, we can know God is there and feel that He is not. And the depression that causes us to feel that way definitely affects out spirit and heart.

Then David adds, “Hear me speedily, O LORD: my spirit faileth: hide not thy face from me, lest I be like unto them that go down into the pit.” He says, “LORD I’m desperate. LORD, I must see thy face.” When you see God’s face it will transform your life. This is worship. David wants to see the LORD’S face to see if it is red in anger. “LORD, am I in this condition because you are upset with me.” Or it may be, “LORD, I see your face now, and I see that you are not worried a bit about this circumstance that I am in. Therefore, I know it will turn out ok.” A lot can be gained by seeing the face of God.

The words, “Lest I be like unto them that go down into the pit” mean that David recognizes that only God can make him different than the heathen around him. Do you know what makes you different from the unsaved who are on their way to the pit? It is certainly not your rule keeping or self effort. The difference is gained in the New Birth and in prayer where God sustains the life He gives. Next we see,

DAVID’S SPECIFIC REQUESTS

1.He first requests that his spiritual hearing be restored. This is in verse 8: “Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning.” The words “cause me to hear” is asking the LORD to do something for him that he can’t do for himself. The words “in the morning” means early. David does not go to God when everything else has failed. God is no spare tire for David. Have you ever by your own effort tried to hear God and couldn’t? It is right to take this need to God in prayer.

2.Next he requests guidance. This is brought out in the words in verse 8: “cause me to know the way wherein I should walk.” We have the Word of God that shows us the way in general. But specific guidance is what David wants. We can ask and get specific guidance.

3.Next he requests deliverance. This is brought out in the words in verse 9: “Deliver me, O LORD from mine enemies: I flee to thee to hide me.” The word “deliver” means, “to snatch me away.” It is in the imperative mood therefore expresses urgency. God helps in urgent situations. God is our refuge from Satan and the forces of darkness.

4..Then next David requests instructions. This is brought out in the words in verse 10: “Teach me to do thy will.” The word “teach” here means to instruct. David wants to learn. He wants to be the the LORD’S disciple. We need to be taught of God. The Holy Spirit is here to guide us into all truth.

5.Then next David requests revival. This is brought out in the words in verse 11: “Quicken me, O LORD, for thy name’s sake.” The word “Quicken” means “to revive, to refresh, to restore to life.” David is not dead spiritually from the standpoint of losing his salvation. However, he was depressed and a depressed person SHOWS NO LIFE in the spiritual realm. There are times when we cease to manifest the Life of Christ. We need revival. We need to be refreshed. David is right. He is going to the One who can do this for him.

6.Then finally he requests the destruction of his enemies. This is brought out in verse 12: “And of thy mercy cut off mine enemies.” The words “cut off” mean to annihilate, to exterminate them. I don’t know about you but I look forward to Revelation 20:1-2: “And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,” The one who plagues the saints will ultimately be put down.

All of us experience depression to one degree or another. It gives a feeling of hopelessness. That is an awful feeling. God is there to help us just like He was for David. Read this Psalm when you feel depressed and you will realize that you are not alone. David, a man after God’s own heart, had the problem. Take his testimony and follow it and you will experience the same good results. Remember you are God’s servant.

May the Lord bless these words to our hearts.

In Christ

Bro. White