“The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.”
(Lamentations 3:24, ESV)
One time I decided to climb a mountain with a group from the church. When I was in the military I trained in mountaineering while going through Army Ranger School, I was in peak physical condition. Yet at the time of the climb with the church group, it was a different story. Even though this mountain did not compare in difficulty to what I had trained on in the service, I struggled with the endurance to climb it. Yet I remembered something. The only way to climb a slope is one step at a time. I eventually made it to the top.
In the area of emotional wellness, people often struggle with situations that will make them feel like they are in the valley of despair. It is not a great place to be and I have on occasion struggled with this. So, how do we climb out of the valley? Well, it takes effort and most of all grace.
In the book of Lamentations, we see the record of the writer’s sorrow. The writer, who is most likely Jeremiah, sees his beloved city destroyed, the people decimated, and a remnant deported through the Babylonian conquest. His heart is broken. He weeps and mourns. Yet he comes to some conclusions that help him climb out of the valley of despair. In the midst of his sorrow, he recorded these words.
“But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. ‘The Lord is my portion,’ says my soul, ‘therefore I will hope in him.’” (Lamentations 3:21–24, ESV)
Sorrow and depression can come from a variety of factors. Often it can begin with a variety of adverse circumstances; such was the case of Jeremiah. It can also be initiated due to guilt from unconfessed and unrepentant sin. It can come because of personal failures. It can pop up when you are mentally or physically drained. What steps can one take to climb out of the valley?
First, but not foremost, those struggling should take care for themselves physically. This would include proper dieting, relaxation (that is quiet time and sleep), and exercise. All these things will contribute to a better mental state. Above all do not self-medicate through drugs or alcohol.
Second, examine your life to see if you are carrying a burden of guilt due to unconfessed or unrepentant sins. These can be things that have manifested as behavioral patterns over years past, which must be identified and corrected. Sometimes this will require proper Christian counselling.
Third, and of primary importance, get your spiritual life in order. This we can see in Jeremiah’s words. He realized that the love of the Lord for him was steadfast and eternal. He understood that the mercies of the Lord were renewed always. He understood that the Lord was always faithful; and this is true even when we are not. In short, Jeremiah saw his hope in the Lord not in the circumstances of the moment.
Often in our Christian lives we struggle to get out of the valley because we have allowed our spiritual wellbeing to falter. So, here are a few steps to consider for spiritual renewal. Spend quality quiet time with the Lord through prayer, reading, and the study of the Scripture. Make sure you relax in the presence of the Lord and be still, that is be quiet in communing with Him. Remember to consider His unchangeable infinite love for you and His faithfulness.
Seek biblical fellowship. It is in the community of believers that one should find encouragement and comfort. Fellowship is essential for everyone. The church is designed for building one another up. However, be advised that there are some who will say things that do not help, when all you need is to experience Christ’s love and hope.
Seek good godly biblical counsel. This should go without saying. However, one of the big problems we have is pride and a resistance to ask for help. We must swallow our pride and admit that we have a problem. Until we realize it we will not ask for prayer and advice.
Renewing the Heart 