“ … For your ruin is spread wide as the sea; Who can heal you?” (Lam. 2:13c, NKJV)
The broad theme we are currently discussing is the spirit of perversion. This spirit dis-aligns things, so that believers do not walk in a life of abundance and victory, despite the gospel of Jesus Christ (John 10:10; Rom. 8:37; 1 John 5:4-5; Rev. 21:7). They thus become part of “a crooked and perverted generation” (Matt. 17:17; Phil. 2:15).
The more specific sub-theme we have been dealing with is the larger encompassing theme of depression. Even though this may not be something you struggle with, it is important for us to understand God’s perspective on this very often misunderstood illness so that those who do indeed suffer from it can be helped.
In the previous teaching we argued that there are two great causes of depression – the one is medical in nature, and the other is caused by psychological factors. Henry Wright makes the following statement in his book A More Excellent Way: “depression, by definition, is no more and no less than a chemical imbalance in the body induced externally or internally” (p. 234). We briefly had a look at some of the medical aspects involved, but noted that it is of great importance that all possible natural causes be looked at first before medication is invoked. Even when the medication route is followed, it is still important that all contributing psychological factors be dealt with.
We made it clear that when depression is not caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain there are many factors at play. In the teaching of Day 949 we listed eight such factors from our literature study. We noted that we would return to them later. The first on the list is biological factors, which we’ve already discussed. Two of the factors on the list could be classified as current external factors: “the sense of being trapped and unable to remedy an intolerable situation” (Wright), and continuous stress. The three others on the list are actually fruits of depression, and not the roots: negative thoughts, (repressed) anger, and a deep-seated feeling of guilt. All three of these can be symptoms of depression, but not its cause. We are thus not going to be discussing them at this point.
There are two factors left on the list: rejection and abuse. These two factors can be a root wound, but their influence stretches further than that. One could add trauma to the list, or molestation/rape, etc. Trauma in itself is so widely interpretable that all the possible causes of it is hard to list. In my opinion one should see the root wound as symbolically-generic, with various possible causes. The common characteristic of all these causes is that they are emotional wounds that have been repressed or oppressed and for which the person has not received healing.
- Selah: Is there repressed trauma in your life of which you are aware?
- Read: 2 Chr. 6-7; Ps. 136.
- Memorise: 136:1 (and make this a credo for your life).
- For a more in-depth understanding: Read C.S. Lewis’ The Problem of Pain.
