Certainly there are various causes for depression, some of them physical, but basically, depression is selfish. You can see this illustrated In the experience of the psalmist. For one thing, he was discouraged because his plans bad not been fulfilled. He wanted to join the pilgrims in their annual trip to the temple, but he could not go (42:4). When you have eagerly anticipated some event, and have had to change your plans, this can be discouraging. However, who are we that God should always work things out to please us? Even when we don't have our way, Romans 8.28 is still in the Bible!

Not only had his plans not been fulfilled, but his feelings had not been relieved (42:3). He was "feeding on tears" instead of eating his meals. The enemy was taunting him and nobody was sympathizing with him. (We wonder if the writer had ever sympathized with somebody else in his troubles!) He was surrounded by people, yet he felt very much alone.

Furthermore, his questions bad not been answered "Why art thou cast down?"/"When shall I come and appear before God?" /"Why hast Thou forgotten me?"/"Why go I mourning?"/' 'Why dost Thou cast me off?" Then there is the repeated jibe of the enemy, "Where is thy God?" Ten times the psalmist asked "Why?" and we have no record that God ever gave him an answer!

It is easy to see that self lies at the heart of the writer's complaint. He wants his plans to be fulfilled, his feelings improved, his questions answered. He is so busy looking at himself that he forgets to look at God! The Prophet Elijah made the same mistake when he fled from Jezebel (1 Kings 19). He thought that the victory on Mt. Carmel would result in national revival, but it did not. "I am not better than my fathers!" he lamented (19:4); and he even asked to die!

While there are times when God's people need to examine themselves and confess their sins, it is a dangerous thing to look at yourself too much. One evidence of this selfish pride (or proud selfishness) is that we see ourselves no matter where we look. This explains why a change in circumstances cannot of itself cure depression: we take our hearts with us The psalmist saw a deer drinking at a brook and yet was reminded of his own yearning for God (Ps. 42:1). He saw and heard the cataracts booming on the river and thought only of his own deep needs and the fact that he was "drowning" in trials and troubles (42:6-7). Even nature's beauty fails to give peace to the troubled heart, if we are thinking only of ourselves and not of others and God.

When our Lord looked at nature. He saw the Father's love and care (Matt 6:24-34; 10:28-31). The Father cares for the birds, even the little sparrows that fall. He looks after the flowers. The world of nature was a window through which Jesus saw the Father. Because we are human, it is natural for us to think mainly of ourselves when we are going through difficult times. We must constantly remind ourselves to walk by faith and to see God in tbe picture After all, God is in control of this universe! "Yet the Lord [Jehovah God] will command His loving-kindness in the daytime, and in the night His song shall be with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life" (42:8). God is in command! We can pray to Him and He will give us a song, even in the night. (See Job 35:10.) The living God is the "God of my life," and I must daily look to Him.

The most important thing about any difficult experience is not tbat we get out of it, but what we get out of it. If we are truly thirsting after God, and not just His help and deliverance, then the experience that could tear us down will actually build us up. Instead of complaining, we will be praying and praising God. Life will not be a mirror in which we see only ourselves; it will be a window through which we see God.

From Meet Yourself in the Psalms Copyright ©1983 Used By Permission