“My spirits were
sunken so low that I could weep by the hour like a child, and yet I knew not
what I wept for … a kind friend was telling me of some poor old soul living
near, who was suffering very great pain, and yet she was full of joy and
rejoicing. I was so distressed by the hearing of that story, and felt so
ashamed of myself.… [but] sometimes the Christian should not endure his
sufferings with a gallant and a joyous heart… [but] that sometimes his spirits
should sink within him, and that he should become even as a little child
smitten beneath the hand of God.”
—
Charles Haddon Spurgeon (1834 – 1892)
Real as real as real was the spiritual torture known to the great
preacher, Spurgeon. There were the physical maladies (gout, for instance) and
there were the defamatory maladies – envies and jealousies, without much doubt –
the weight of responsibility for his preaching, and the spiritual agonies some
like him are ‘blessed’ (or burdened) with.
What a comfort it is
to know that a great and very famous preacher was so normal as to be utterly
spent in his own soul’s agony!
I heard of recent
that nearly seventy percent of pastors will suffer mental illness at one time
or other – and a portion of these must be afflicted most continually. We are
not alone! We find ourselves in good company, for the work we do, which is disposed
to spiritual attack, criticism, indifference, and fickleness, not to mention
our predilection for praise and approval.
There are two main
causes of depression and depressive disorders – perfectionism (the fear of
failure, not meeting lofty goals, etc) and relational dissatisfaction
(including bullying, loneliness, loss, etc).
Spurgeon’s
depression runs similarly to ours – at times we know not the reason. Perhaps
there are too many causes and effects. When we list them down and analyse them –
if we have the energy – we are, at times, delighted in a resigned sort of way
to have negotiated the labyrinth of reason.
Sometimes the tears
have no sense at all, yet we do most dedicatedly shed them!
This is not to say,
per Spurgeon’s life, that God can’t use us greatly or effectively in all our
weary brokenness. Of course, God ensures it’s the broken who are used, just so
the proud minister cannot explain it.
There are two other
points the prince of preachers makes – two appositely arranged: 1. It’s often
highly appropriate that the person with depression have no reason or excuse for
joy – despair is a useful locale; and, 2. There are other times when we simply
must come before God, besotted by his Presence, in a humble and cordial
childlike surrender.
***
QUESTIONS in REVIEW:
1. Do you find you are guilty for
depressed days or weeks or months? What could God be saying that makes
theological sense, plus provides you a hope in truth?
2. Have you noticed any vicious
cycles apparent in your depression? Can charting these cycles provide any
insight on how to manage your mental health?
3. Perhaps you’ve never been
depressed. How can you have empathy (if you struggle for it) with those who
suffer?
© 2015 S. J. Wickham.
No comments:
Post a Comment