God’s love always comes through

I am reading again some delightful books by author Jan Karon. She tells the story of a pastor who is serving as shepherd in a small town called, Mitford, N.C.

"At Home in Mitford" is the first book in this series. I am reading "In This Mountain" which I had not previously read. While these books are generally upbeat stories of God's blessing and power in people's lives, Father Tim faces many serious problems. As I read the seventh book in this series, he personally faces the problem of depression brought on by his diabetes, brought on by a serious auto accident, and brought on by his guilt from that accident.

Perhaps like me, when you read a book you can identify with the characters in the book and their life experiences. As I have identified with Father Tim in this book, I have hurt and struggled with him as he faced his depression. I am at the place in the book where Father Tim is about to come out of his depression. I must say that I am certainly ready for his depression to end.

I have now been pastor in Alaska for more than 20 years, and I have known more people here who face depression than any other place. Perhaps it is because the extreme swings between light and darkness have an effect on people's moods. Perhaps depression is so real in Alaska because of the long distance from family and support in the Lower 48. Or maybe people are just more open to talk with me because I have been here so long. But I know from my time here as pastor that depression is real and it is common.

Sometimes people think if they are depressed there is something wrong with them in a way that is different from others. But depression is not uncommon among God's people in scripture. Elijah, David and probably Saul faced depression to name a few. Some think that Jonah and Paul also faced this crippling experience. In other words, if a person faces depression, it does not mean he or she is different from other children of God. In a world ruined by sin it should not surprise us that life can get us down.

As I have read this current book, the words of Psalm 42 keep coming to me. In Psalm 42, verse 5 and verse 11, David writes, "Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God."

In this Psalm we are told that when a person faces depression they can put their hope in God. But I have learned from helping people as pastor that when a person is depressed it is often not possible to pull themselves up by their bootstraps. You can encourage someone to hope in God, but often they do not feel it. But I have also learned my feelings do not control God's faithful love.

If, as Psalm 42 encourages, a person hopes against hope when they may be downcast and disturbed, this does not mean there are no troubles. Life is full of trouble because the world is a place of rebellion against our Lord and creator. But God's power is stronger than our troubles, and in Jesus' dying and rising God's love has overcome our sin and death. God offers forgiveness to hurting people through faith in Jesus. So, in life's low points a person can continue to put their hope in God. His love is stronger than the cause of those low points.

If you get the winter blues, or if you face deep depression, I pray that this verse from Psalm 42 might give you hope: "Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God."

Even when we feel down, God's love for us in Jesus continues.

Jonathan Rockey is pastor of St. John Lutheran Church in Palmer.

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