Depression: A Devotional For The Wounded Spirit Mfano

Some of the team members at HeartSupport have experienced abandonment by their spouses. Others have had friends betray them. You probably have a story of your own in which you’ve been wounded, perhaps even at the hands of those closest to you, and endured some very dark times. Many times when we are within the clutches of despair, depression, or hopelessness, we can have a tendency to try and act strong. Suck it up. Put on a happy face. Internally, however, we are in anguish. It’s important in this process to grieve, and more importantly grieve what we’ve lost (whether that be a family member, friend, a relationship, or even our happiness). When John the Baptist was beheaded, Jesus lost his cousin. So he withdrew to a desolate place to be alone. This wasn’t him isolating from community, however. Jesus needed time alone to grieve just like many of us do when the weight of the world bears down on us. You may be in a situation, however, where what you lost wasn’t necessarily good for you, but there’s still a gnawing hurt and weightiness in your soul. During King David’s rule, he found himself estranged from his son Absalom. Absalom eventually plotted to overthrow and attack his father, which he succeeded in doing for a time. When David finally returned to power after a battle with his son, he broke down in grief due to the loss of the relationship and death of his son. Three times he cried out his son’s name and proclaimed, “would that I had died instead of you.” Even though their relationship was strained and marred by betrayal, David mourned the loss and grieved over his son. Today, you may find yourself torn over whether it’s healthy to grieve the loss of something that was unhealthy. Grieving is a natural process that even the savior of the world engaged in. Don’t block your feelings. Perhaps it’s time to grieve.