Study Guide and Daily Devotion

This week you will be able to read about important faith figures that battled despair and depression and found hope. There will also be Scriptures that are good for memorization; you might substitute these verses for any negative thoughts that might repeat themselves. Stand firm in your faith, Friend!

Symptoms of depression include: depressed mood most of the day; markedly diminished interest or pleasure; significant weight gain or loss; inability to sleep or excessive sleep; abnormal speeding up or slowing down of activities; fatigue or loss of energy; feelings of worthlessness or inappropriate guilt; diminished ability to concentrate, focus, or make decisions; recurrent thoughts of death or suicide.

Monday, October 16

Let’s begin with characters in the Old Testament. Read about Moses in Numbers 11: 11-15, Elijah in I Kings 19:4, Hagar in Genesis 16:4-6, and Jonah in Jonah 4:3. Each of these characters faced despair and all of these characters reached out to God! Who do you reach out to when you are depressed? It is important to note that Moses’ community lifted him out of his despair (Numbers 11:16-17). In your moments of despair lean into God’s strength that you might be sustained; and know your community of faith can provide help for your pain.

Tuesday, October 17

The Psalms are full of laments. The Psalms of lament are specifically aimed at issuing a complaint or plea for help. Laments have certain elements: a call, describing the pain; a plea for God; a statement of trust, that God is there; and finally a statement of praise. Read Psalms 40-43. Believe God is with you and hears your lament!

Wednesday, October 18

The book of Job offers a story about a man hit with the worst life could hand him. His children die, his crops are destroyed, his health is jeopardized and his “friends” prove not to be supportive (all of this in the first four chapters). Job has a time when he is angry with God (chapters 6, 7 and 10). Yet, we see, Job clings to his faith as he tries to recover from this pit of despair and God continues to walk with him. The moral of the story, (well, there are many, but I have limited space here!) when we have been Job, we realize no matter what this world hands us God is on our side.
We must go forward in faith! Read Lamentations 3: 19-24, for words of hope a sufferer like Job might have said.

Thursday, October 19

Read Luke 13:10-17. The story of the bent over woman offers us multiple messages to ponder. Jesus took notice of this woman who was on the fringes of society. She probably was not well dressed and most likely appeared depressed being bent over. He knew she needed help. Who do you see on the fringes? Would you encourage this person to move out of the darkness? What would you say to the nay Sayers? Look around you, be alert for the person who might need God; or are you the person that needs to stand and make your way toward Jesus?

Friday, October 20