There are many things in this world that can discourage us. Losing our loved ones or seeing a friendship end can break our hearts. We must allow room for healing when our hearts are heavy. Talk with God about what is happening in your life. Share with Him how you feel, your worries and concerns (1 Peter 5:7).
What is currently making you depressed? Perhaps being hurt by a family member or being told “you’re not good enough” by a co-worker? Bring these feelings to God today. After speaking to Him in prayer, find comfort in these five inspirational quotes and prayers. They will bring hope and peace back to your heart.
1. The absence of loved ones
“Its absence is like the sky, spread over everything” (CS Lewis, A Grief Observed).
When my mother died, my whole world shattered. My mother was my lifeline; the person I could always turn to. But now she was gone and I felt all alone. Our hearts often suffer from depression and grief after the death of a loved one. As CS Lewis so beautifully explains, their absence is everywhere.
No matter where we go, we miss them. Various places, songs and objects remind us of them. The pain hurts in a way that words cannot fully convey. When we struggle with a depressed heart over the death of a loved one, we can turn to the Lord, find comfort in His love, and rest in the promise that we will see Him again.
All who place their faith in Jesus will be reunited in Heaven. Let this truth give you peace during this difficult time. Although this won’t completely cure you of this inner pain, it will help you understand what happened. With time and healing, life will begin again.
Dear Jesus, the absence of my beloved is sometimes too much for me to bear. I miss them so much. Their absence follows me wherever I go. Help me remember that my grief reflects my love for them. They live in my heart and I will see them again in Heaven. In Your Name I pray, Amen.
2. The peace of Jesus
“I know, perhaps better than anyone, what depression means and what it means to feel myself sinking lower and lower. Yet at my worst, when I reach the lowest depths, I experience an inner peace that no pain or depression can in any way disturb. Jesus Christ my Savior, there is still a blessed tranquility in the deep caverns of my soul” (Charles Spurgeon).
Spurgron was known to have suffered from depression, anxiety and panic throughout his life. When we struggle with a depressed heart, we can find comfort in knowing that other Christians have walked this path before us. Spurgeon reminds us of the peace that Jesus brings.
Even when we have hit rock bottom, we still have the inner peace that comes from knowing Jesus. Even depression cannot break this peace. Awareness Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord reaches into the deepest parts of our soul. It has the power to light up the darkest night and bring hope back to our hearts.
Dear Jesus, my depressed heart longs for your peace. In my inner being, I know that you can fill me with your peace, your love, your hope and your encouragement. Depression may be trying to eat away at me, but I know you will help me through the darkest valleys. Thank you for walking alongside me, Lord. Amen.
3. The beauty of kindness
“I have discovered that it is the small, everyday acts of ordinary people that keep the darkness at bay. Small acts of kindness and love” (Gandalf).
Gandalf is the beloved wizard from The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings trilogy. Small acts of kindness from others can help our hearts heal when we are feeling down. Think about how you feel when someone goes out of their way to be nice to you. Maybe a friend came over to spend the afternoon with you, or your grandmother came to take care of you after your operation.
Acts of kindness can make a huge difference. Even a smile or a kind word can go a long way in someone’s life. Try to radiate this same light to others. Maybe you’re feeling too depressed right now, but don’t let that hamper your mind. Let the Holy Spirit work in you and lead you to acts of kindness, love, and encouragement.
God, it feels good when people are friendly to me. Even the smallest act of kindness can make me smile. Please help me take note of the acts of kindness around me. I also ask you to help me be kinder to others in my everyday life. When they look at me, I want them to see you. Amen.”
4. The only way out is through
“The best way out is always through it” (Robert Frost, A Servant to Servants).
Robert Frost is a well-known poet who struggled with depression throughout his life. Her sister and daughter both suffered from schizophrenia, which led to them being institutionalized. Frost knew a depressed heart, and this often manifests itself through his poetry.
In his work, A Servant to Servants, we see motivation to overcome depression. The only way to get out of a depressive episode or flare-up is to get through it. As we move through this season, we must trust in the Lord. We can count on the truth: He will bring us out the other side.
In your own life, do you believe this? Do you really believe that God can do everything? Challenge all doubts with the truth of Scripture. God can do greater things than we could ever imagine (Ephesians 3:20-21).
God, my depressed heart makes me feel heavy. There are days when I don’t want to get out of bed. Please give me the motivation to remember that the only way out is through it. No one can take the step toward healing except me. Continue to grace me with your presence as I walk the path to healing. Amen.
5. Praise God even when it hurts
“Even when my strength is gone/I will praise you/Even when I have no song/I will praise you” (Hillsong United, “Even When It Hurts”).
In the lyrics of this Hillsong United song, we see the encouragement to praise God even when it hurts. This can be a challenge when we are dealing with a depressed heart, but it can help us grow in our relationship with Him. Even when all is lost, we can turn to the Lord to praise Him.
This reflects Habakkuk 3:17-18“Even though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, even though the olive harvest fails and the fields produce no food, even though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stables, I will rejoice in the Lord, I will rejoice in God my Savior.” Find hope in God during this difficult time and watch your faith grow stronger.
Dear Jesus, from the bottom of my heart, I choose to sing praises to you today. You are good, you are holy and you are righteous. Keep my eyes fixed on You even when all seems lost. I trust in You for all things, Lord. You are our Good Shepherd. Amen.
Photo credit: ©iStock/Getty Images Plus/tommaso79
