Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God. Ps. 43:5
Heavenly Father, I woke up heart-heavy for those of us living somewhere between mild melancholia and deep depression. In the past year, fears and anxieties, inner-darkness and heart-distresses have multiplied. Thank you for being our Father of mercies and God of all comfort.
Life between the two comings of Jesus generates plenty of reasons to feel the normal “blues”—even deep sadness. But help us when darkness doesn’t just hide your “lovely face,” but friends (and we) question if you’re there at all.
- We pray for friends whose “downcast-ness” is COVID generated. Isolation, the “what-if’s,” the loss of loved ones and livelihood, the stress of schooling, working, and planning… these things add up with compound interest. Have mercy, Father.
- We pray for friends with PTSD, trauma-triggers, abuse stories, and physiological reasons for their depression. Our brains and bodies are more complex than we realize. Bring healing, Father.
- We pray for friends who live in an echo-chamber of contempt. The father of lies condemns, blames, and shames nonstop—often through family members, bosses, and coaches. Oh, Father, silence the meanness, by the power of the Gospel, and the love of Jesus.
Help each of us steward our struggles well. Free us from withdrawal and denial, medicating poorly and bad theology. Lead us to proper care, the right friends, much more of You. So very Amen we pray, in Jesus’ strong and loving name.