Sunday's Lesson - Optimism: Happiness and Healing

Below are biblical examples of great characters who suffered symptoms of depression. Who were they, and what were their symptoms?

Psalm 42

This passage is a description of a situation that David experienced. David is in despair because he desperately thirsts for his God as a dear pants for water. David feels that God is distant from him,he has a bleak outlook on life. David also feels that everyone is against him ,and his enemies have overcome him.

1 Kings 19:2–18

In this passage we find the great prophet Elijah after his seminal victor on Mt. Carmel. Jezebel hears of this victory and sends Elijah a message which causes him to run in terror. Elijah finds himself under a Juniper tree exhausted and exasperated.As Elijah sits under the tree he desires that he should die.Elijah falls asleep and the Lord wakes him up and feeds Him and encounters him and reveals Himself to Elijah.

Elijah felt as if he had failed God , and he felt as if he was all alone and he even wanted to die. He felt as if was the only faithful prophet left in Israel, but God revealed to Him there were 7000 who had not bowed their knee to Baal.

Everyone at some point struggles with depression. While that is generally unavoidable, you still can make choices that will help avoid potentially depressing situations. What kind of choices are you making—and where will they likely lead?

It is important that we try to make good choices. If we know the right thing to do and we choose something different it will give the enemy an opportunity to use this against us. We must learn to reason from cause to effect and foresee the consequences of our decisiosn before they are upon us.

Prayer: Father please comfort us in our times of darkness. Grant us wisdom to make wise choices to avoid unnecessary sorrow. Fill us with the joy of your salvation. Thank you in Jesus name amen.