People in the Bible dealt with pretty significant low moods – that’s not a modern phenomenon. Elijah said, ‘I have had enough, Lord…Take my life’ (1 Kings 19:4 NIV). Job said, ‘I loathe my very life’ (Job 10:1 NIV). David wrote, ‘My soul is downcast’ (Psalm 42:6 NIV). There are times, as these three discovered, when your drive and mood can be completely sapped. But Why? (We’re not talking about clinical depression here – that’s when you should search out professional help.) Being honest, here are a few possible causes: 1) Sin. Sin’s like a stone in your shoe. You’ll have no peace until you get it out. A relaxing holiday in the Bahamas won’t do the work. Just the blood of Jesus (have a read of 1 John 1:7). 2) Greed. King Ahab’s obsession with owning Naboth’s vineyard made him grumpy, moody, and ruined his family’s day (see 1 Kings 21:4). 3) Comparison. Comparison kills joy. It will just depress you (see 2 Corinthians 10:12). 4) Speaking negatively. ‘The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences’ (Proverbs 18:21 NLT). 5) Fatigue. Jesus called His disciples to rest, because He knew that when fatigue walks in, faith walks out (see Mark 6:31). 6) Unforgiveness. When you refuse to forgive someone, they’re a dead weight around your neck. So what’s the fix? Are you reflecting in prayer and Bible-reading? If you are, then it’ll sink to your core and do the work. Jeremiah, who battled depression, wrote, ‘When your words came, I ate them…they were my joy and my heart’s delight’ (Jeremiah 15:16 NIV). God can give us the best in situations that feel like the worst. You can trust Him to help you ‘be in good humour’ when life sees terrible (John 16:33). Have you seen the best in your situation yet?
