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Todd's Blog
Reasons joy is lostJune 11th, 2009 by Todd JohnsonPart two in our series on depression took us to some of the reasons that Christians lose joy and even struggle with depression. I ended on the note of how to respond to these reasons and I did so with a quote from D.M. Lloyd-Jones. I was asked after the evening to consider posting this quote and I am glad to do so. These words are taken from the book by Lloyd-Jones entitled Spiritual Depression: It’s Causes and Cures, p.21 “The main art in the matter of spiritual living is to know how to handle yourself. You have to take yourself in hand, you have to address yourself, preach to yourself, question yourself. You must say to your soul: ‘Why art thou cast down’ – what business have you to be disquieted? You must turn on yourself, upbraid yourself, condemn yourself, exhort yourself, and say to yourself: ‘Hope thou in God’ – instead of muttering in this depressed, unhappy way. And then you must go on to remind yourself of God, Who God is, and what God is and what God has done, and what God has pledged Himself to do. Then having done that, end on this great note: defy yourself, and defy other people, and defy the devil and the whole world, and say with this man: ‘I shall yet praise Him for the help of His countenance, who is also the health of my countenance and my God.’ “ 13 Responses to “Reasons joy is lost”Leave a Reply  About ToddName: Todd Johnson Verse of the Week“For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds” - 2 Cor 10:4 ESV NowReading: “Spurgeon’s Practical Wisdom” by C.H.S “Voices from the Past ” Edited by Richard Rushing “50 People Every Christian Should Know” by Warren Wiersbe “The Narnian – The Life and Imagination of C.S. Lewis” by Alan Jacobs Listening: Evan Wickham – Above the Sky Archives:
 
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Cool. I asked you in my mind to post this quote. I wish everyone obeyed all my thoughts like this.
Michele – I’ll bring by the $100 this afternoon.
Todd – Thanks for sharing that quote. I may turn into a MLJ fanboy. I did notice that you hooked us all in first by quoting Piper, before slaying us with MLJ. I think it’s a conspiracy!
Before my hubby takes us all off into randomness again, I have to put this thought out there… I know that I am one of those who is probably more inclined to depression. How do I learn to praise him that I am “fearfully and wonderfully made” when so often I despise how I am made, hate my tendency to find the glass half empty, envy those who just radiate joy…
This portion of the MLJ quote stayed with me–”defy yourself”– but I wonder if I really comprehend his meaning. What, in myself, do I defy? And what do I recognize as “fearfully and wonderfully made”?
Sarah, I’d be willing to bet DMLJ said this after coming out of depression. I’ve found depression to be a kind of emotional fasting; when it is over, it leaves behind greater clarity of thought and an expanded capacity for joy. It’s like the appreciation of a good meal after spending a week backpacking in tough terrain.
I’d also be willing to bet Elijah thoroughly enjoyed those muffins!
defy~ “to resist openly, to refuse to obey” (Oxford Dic.)
Sarah~ For me, it’s recognizing my feelings, (depression) , but changing my thoughts by refocusing on what is True. (Truth),this starts me on the path to joy.
I refuse to obey how I “feel.” (not to oversimplify the pain of feeling depressed), I CHOOSE to believe what seems unbelievable to me at the time.
I hope this made some sense.
(My communication is depressing…
The only times I have felt truly down are after I have a baby, and boy do I fall hard. In those times I have to remind myself that this is only for a season and submerge myself in Psalms and praise music. If I veer from that in any way it’s almost like I can’t see, but if I stay on the right track I feel like I am just barley going to make it through. God making Himself my very breath, and me knowing it.
I think it usually goes back to Phil. 4:8 and remembering to control our thoughts. I know, more easily said than done. It’s funny though, I am my most creative after those times, almost becoming a craft machine. Once again, God bringing good out of bad.
P.S. Sarah, try not to despise how you are made. I think you are one of the coolest people I know.
I know, I need to add this for all of you depressed ones; I observed this with Suzanne after her post-pardum (and quite serious, I might add,) depression.
During the weeks she’s “down”, the house seems filled with a sadness, like someone’s died, it feels dark. She functions, takes care of the kids, etc. but sadly, quietly, a total lack of her usual joy.
When it starts to leave, it’s almost like the interior walls have been repainted and the shades opened; She begins creating, sewing, crafting, cooking, making the most beautiful things, truly, her best work. It’s like a little renaissaince in her life.
I’ve observed this in others who struggle as well; Their best revelation, art, moments, work, etc. comes after their darkest, most depressed times. A high price to pay, but it does seem to go with the way God has always designed blessing, that it rises out of evil.
I am not adamently opposed to medication, but the almost constant over-prescribing of it. A close family member struggles with this and a Christian physician and local Christian counselor prescribed it for her after 1 session, (after the latter told her she was “bi-polar”, which she is not.) The medication made her struggle even greater. She still suffers with depression, but is learning to deal with it, what causes it, how to think during it, etc.
I wonder what will become of our Spurgeons, King Davids, VanGoghs, Keith Greens, A.W. Pinks, Tozers, and Sarah and Suzannes. What will become of their minds if they’re not allowed to delve into the “dark night of the soul” that they always seem to arise from with gifts for us all? I love the movie Garden State. (disclaimer, there are scenes, definitely that are evil, and should be watched with remote ready) It’s the story of a kid who’s been medicated all his life because of a traumatic incident that affected him deeply. He’s attempting to be free of his pills. At one point he tells his dad, “It’s not always wrong to feel.” The Bible recognizes that we’re going to feel every range of emotion, (after all, we are made in the image of God, and He seems very passionate.) but warns us to not sin just because we have them. “In your anger, do not sin.” (I struggle more with bitterness and anger than sadness, and this is one I keep handy) If I could medicate my anger away, or bitterness, would God want me to? Or does He want me to grow to know Him, remember Him, trust Him, obey Him, through my sin and constant struggle with it?
Michele, how true. We are taught not to feel. I find myself struggling with this when my daughter is sharing her struggles. My first impulse is to medicate her and myself with food. I now substitute the Bread of Life whenever I can. It has more nutrients and better side effects.
Michelle, can you please adopt me into your family??? Between this bit of wonderfulness you just posted, and Suzanne’s kindness, and that awesome message pouring over me from Levi’s blog today… I think I need to keep you Nunninks close at hand!
Thanks, Crabby. I so understand.
Sarah, thanks be to God, the adoption papers to make us all family and keep us close at hand were drawn up a long time ago. Amen and amen!
Lots of wisdom spoken on this blog!
Amazing grace shining through.
Thanks all!
I just wanted to share Martin Llyoyd Jones website, you can hear his sermons.
http://www.mlj.org.uk/mlj.nsf/INDEX?openform
Michele – I love what you wrote. That makes so much sense. We take joy in our hard times and weaknesses, knowing that in Christ, they will turn to gold. Or, as Paul said:
“Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.”
2 Corinthians 12:9–10 (ESV)