February 3, 2002
Numbers 11:14-15
Crawling Out of the Holes of Life Series
“Crawling Out of the Depression Hole”
On November 1, 1993 I traveled to Palm Springs California. As the American Airlines MD-80 banked over a small mountain range just to the east of Palm Springs I was able to catch a panoramic view of this lush oasis in the eastern California high desert. We had flown for nearly two hours over what appeared from 30,000 feet to be some of the most inhospitable country on the continent. I was flying into a two week adventure in one of the most beautiful places in the country. Most of you know already that I really enjoy the game of golf. Palm Springs is known for some of the best golf courses on the planet. In fact the Bob Hope Classic is played at three courses in Palm Springs. I did not fly into Palm Springs that day to play golf. As I drove along Bob Hope Boulevard, a tree lined street that borders one of the courses on which the Bob Hope Classic is played, a fairly innocuous sign appeared at the first opening in the vegetation along this street. The small sign at the entrance read, “Welcome to the Betty Ford Center.”
Most everyone today knows that the Betty Ford Center was and is one of the premier substance abuse treatment facilities in the world. It was founded in 1982. Some of you might have gotten a sinking feeling just a moment ago as I shared the inscription on the sign on Bob Hope Boulevard. Perhaps you thought to yourself, “Well, I didn’t know that our pastor had that kind of a problem.” Maybe you assumed because I went there that I have had an identified substance abuse problem in my past. I do not, not from an addictions stand point anyway. I do come from a family that has multi-generational substance abuse and that is a problem. But, if you felt a catch in your thinking or feelings as a result of you hearing that I went to the Betty Ford Center, you now might understand why so many people who find themselves in the “Holes of Life” just quietly struggle along alone, many times never finding healing or wholeness. There is a stigma attached to many of these holes of life. In reality folks, much of the time the holes we find ourselves in are not purposeful. Initially, we don’t fall into holes, stumble into holes or jump into holes on purpose. We do however, often stay in them on purpose or go back to them on purpose because we have become accustomed to being in them. And, where we are, even if it is a hole, can be easier than climbing out and maybe falling in another. But, this time deeper, steeper or filled with…well…heaven only knows. This is illustrated by a short story entitled, “Autobiography in Five Short Chapters”, by Portia Nelson.
Autobiography In Five Short Chapters
by: Portia Nelson
Chapter 1
I walk down the street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I fall in.
I am lost…I am helpless, It isn’t my fault.
It takes forever to find a way out.
Chapter 2
I walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I pretend I don’t see it.
I fall in again.
I can’t believe I am in the same place but,
It isn’t my fault.
It takes a long time to get out.
Chapter 3
I walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I see it is there.
I still fall in…it’s a habit.
My eyes are open.
I know where I am. It is my fault.
I get out immediately.
Chapter 4
I walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I walk around it.
Chapter 5
I walk down another street.
Oh and by the way, I drove into the Betty Ford Center on November 1, 1993 to do a residency in Substance Abuse because I was teaching the substance abuse classes at the University of Evansville.
We have all been in holes. Perhaps in your life you are in a hole or a progression of holes right now. This series is designed to help you to understand some powerful principles of scripture which will enable you to stay out of holes, climb out of holes and keep out of holes for the balance of your life. Our first hole we will explore is…The Depression Hole.
Turn with me to Numbers, chapter 11 verses 14-15. You need a little background. The character speaking to God in this instance is Moses. Moses is generally accepted as the preeminent character in our Bible’s Old Testament. He was a brilliant military leader for Egypt, raised as a son of the Pharaoh, the King of Egypt. He led the children of Israel from slavery to the doorstep of the promised land. He spoke to God himself on Mount Sinai. He was called the giver of the law, shepherd of a nation. Yet, Moses had had enough negative experiences in his life that for much of his life he portrayed many of the classic symptoms of depression:
-loss of appetite
-loss of sleep or energy
-Loss of interest in previously pleasurable activities
-Reduced ability to concentrate
-Overcome with feelings of hopelessness or uselessness.
Lets read our chosen scripture and see if Moses doesn’t sound depressed to you: Numbers 11:14-15:
14 I cannot carry all these people by myself; the burden is too heavy for me.
15 If this is how you are going to treat me, put me to death right now-if I have found favor in your eyes- and do not let me face my own ruin.
In an article entitled, “Why am I so Depressed,” Brenda Poinsett writes the following: “When I mentioned that I struggled with depression Christians often question me. “Were you a believer at the time?” Were you walking with the Lord?” “Were you reading the Bible and praying?” When I answer yes to these questions, I can almost hear another question forming in the silence that follows: How could a faithful growing believer get depressed?” This question reveals a common unspoken and inaccurate assumption: Christians are not supposed to struggle with depression. That is simply not true. We have many examples from scripture that would prove otherwise. Job, Jonah, Elijah, Moses each experienced feelings of hopelessness and despair. Jesus when coming from one of the times of prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane was “in great despair.”
One of England’s finest preachers was Charles Haddon Spurgeon. Frequently during his ministry he was plunged into severe depression. Sometimes he would be out of the pulpit for two to three months at a time. Arnold Dallimore in his biography of Spurgeon entitled, “Prince of Preachers” wrote, “What he suffered in those times of darkness we may not know…even his desperate calling to God brought no relief.” “There are dungeons,” he said, “beneath the castles of despair.”
A young Midwestern lawyer suffered from such deep depression that his friends thought it best to keep all knives and razors out of his reach. He questioned his life’s calling and the prudence of even attempting to follow through. During this time he wrote, “I am now the most miserable man living. Whether I should ever be better, I cannot tell. I awfully imagine that I shall not.” But somehow, from somewhere, Abraham Lincoln received the encouragement he needed, and the achievements of his life completely vindicated his bout with discouragement.” Winston Churchill, a considerably courageous man and one of the greats of history, suffered from terrible depression most of his adult life. He once commented that it followed him around like “a black dog.”
Depression is no respecter of persons, it strikes young and old, male and female, rich or poor, well-known or unknown, believer or un-believer alike. Depression knows no boundaries. There is one caveat that I must add before I present to you what I consider the steps that we must follow to combat depression in our lives. Generally depression must be treated by a medical doctor and perhaps medication to correct this severe problem must be used. No shame should be attached to those who seek such help. If you or someone you love suffers down time for a prolonged period of time, and if you, or someone you love is not able to function through normal responsibilities, immediately seek professional medical help. Medical doctors must deal with problems that are rooted in biology, psychology or physiology. The remedies that I speak of today are primarily solutions for depression rooted in spiritual causes. And, might I note that I have seen very few cases of depression that did not include a spiritual aspect.
In times of despair we see God deal with individuals in scripture time and time again in alike ways. First, Let God confront you, He always does this by leading us to admit the truth. Verbalize and admit your feelings, no matter what they are. We tend to want to try to talk ourselves into some other feeling, some other condition. But, the road to health begins when you simply admit that you are in despair, life seems hopeless or you are depressed. Remember God sees and knows everything already. He knows the true condition of your heart and head. He wants us to verbalize to him because he knows that we are listening in and we need to say it to begin the process of healing.
Secondly, Seek God with all your heart. There is an ancient tale from India about a young man who was seeking God. He went to a wise old sage for help and asked, “How can I find God?” he asked the old man. The old man took him into a nearby river and they waded out into deep water. When the water was just under their chins, the old man without warning, seized the young man by the neck, pushing him under the water. He held the young man under until the young man was thrashing around in desperation. Up out of the water, the old sage drew the young man. The young man was coughing water from his lungs and still gasping for air. Reaching the bank the young man asked indignantly, “What did that have to do with my finding God?” The old man asked, “While you were under the water, what did you want more than anything else?” The young man thought for just a moment and replied, “I wanted air more than anything else.” The old man replied, “When you want God as much as you wanted air, you will find him.” Our scriptures tell us, “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with ALL your heart.” You find hope and health when you find God. Seek him with all your heart.
Third, draw aside and speak with God. There is something almost magical that happens when we are in a depressive state when we draw aside and speak to God. We get half the step right. When we are depressed we often withdraw to ourselves, shutting everyone and everything out of our lives. The other half of the picture is speaking to God in a quiet place. We become outside of ourself focused and we soon discover that outside self is where we must be to heal.
Fourth, Do what God says, immediately. Dr. Carl Meninger once gave a lecture on mental health and was answering questions from the audience. Someone said, “What would you advise a person to do if that person felt a nervous breakdown coming on?” Most people thought he would say, “ Go see a psychiatrist immediately,” but he didn’t. To their astonishment, Dr. Meninger replied, “Lock up your house, go across the railroad tracks, find somebody in need, and help that person.” In order to overcome discouragement, “Don’t focus on yourself, get involved in the lives of other people.”
There is a powerful principle at work here. It is the principle of echo’s. Scripture calls it the sewing and reaping principle. Offer hope, get hope. As you sew so shall you reap. In the midst of all despair there is always something to be thankful for.
A woman once approached a man who had a sour look on his face. She encouraged the grumpy man to be thankful. He replied, “Thankful for what? I don’t even have enough money to pay my bills!” The woman thought for a moment then said, “Well then, be thankful you are not one of your creditors.” We experience so many blessings in life that it is so easy to take them for granted, look at the cloudy side of life and see only darkness and despair. Choose to crawl out of the hole and there is sunshine just beyond the rim.
