Day 10: In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God. (Romans 8:26-27)
Depression, whether due to a stressful event or a clinical disorder, can be debilitating. It affects our mental and physical health, so we can’t be surprised when it affects our spiritual health as well. Depression leaves a person stripped of energy. There may be no desire to go to church or to read the Bible. Depression can even cause us to give up on prayer.
Perhaps you can relate to the following from Psalm 88:
Lord, you are the God who saves me; day and night I cry out to you.
May my prayer come before you; turn your ear to my cry.
I am overwhelmed with troubles and my life draws near to death.
I am counted among those who go down to the pit; I am like one without strength.
I am set apart with the dead, like the slain who lie in the grave,
whom you remember no more, who are cut off from your care.
You have put me in the lowest pit, in the darkest depths.
Your wrath lies heavily on me; you have overwhelmed me with all your waves.
You have taken from me my closest friends and have made me repulsive to them.
I am confined and cannot escape; my eyes are dim with grief.
Thankfully, “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” (Psalm 34:18) Even when we can’t feel Him near us, even when we feel like He has left us, our God is faithful. He is always there with us, carrying us through the darkness. Faith is a gift from God. He is the one who sustains it because we can’t. When we can’t pray, the Holy Spirit prays for us. When we go to church but can’t sing praises and can’t even fully concentrate on what is happening there, the Holy Spirit still works through the Word to sustain, protect, and even deliver us.
There is something more for you to consider. Jesus Christ prayed the Psalms. He prayed this psalm. He is the one whose life drew near to death. He was the one who went down into the pit, was cut off from the care of the Father. He is the one upon whom the Father wrath lies heavily. Jesus suffered so that He might help those who suffer. He was tempted that He might help those who are tempted.
We face afflictions in this world. As we do, we look to the Son who Suffered, for in Him we are delivered.
Bible Reading: Psalms 88 and 34, Romans 8
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