Coping with 'down' days!

McWilliams · Dec 2, 2005

[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][/font][font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]
[/font][font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]When God calls a sinner, He does not repent of it. God does not, as many friends do, love one day and hate another; or as princes, who make their subjects favorites and afterwards throw them into prison. This is the blessedness of a saint; his condition admits of no altercation. Gods call is founded upon His decree, and His decree is immutable. Acts of grace cannot be reversed. God blots out His peoples sins, but not their names.[/font][font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]
[/font]

[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]THOMAS WATSON[/font]

None of us stay on the mountain top! All of us have those down days when we just feel things are not going well and wonder briefly how we got down in the dumps and now how do we get out! What ususally puts you there and what measures do you use to get out? What scriptures do you cling to in such times? Then looking back how aware are you of God's guiding hand? Sharing your approach will be both a blessing and a help to others here!

Terri · Dec 2, 2005

Mc, I'm not sure you will ever get a reformed person to admit that they have down days. It puts too much focus on them instead of on God.

I know I certainly NEVER have down days.

But, if I ever did have a down day, or week, or month, or year, I would try to remind myself that I am irrelevant. God is the only thing that matters.

McWilliams · Dec 2, 2005

Terri said:
Mc, I'm not sure you will ever get a reformed person to admit that they have down days. It puts too much focus on them instead of on God.

I know I certainly NEVER have down days.

But, if I ever did have a down day, or week, or month, or year, I would try to remind myself that I am irrelevant. God is the only thing that matters.

Christians are not exempt from all kind of people problems, including severe depression and certainly occasional down days!
The puritan pastors wrote volumes on how they identified their mood difficulties and how they were driven by them to become more and more dependent on the Lord to sustain them! The causes they identified were many. Peter Lewis in his great book The Genius of Puritanism gave many details of those so afflicted including Richard Baxter, Christopher Love, Thomas Goodwin and others too numerous to name. Many of them wrote on spiritual depression, mental depression, feeling afflicted by God or Satan.
Thomas Brooks wrote: Melancholy is a dark and dusky humour that disturbs both the soul and the body!
These men, so commited to holiness experienced the same problems as those in their congregation plus the great responsibility for counseling others and helping them with all the difficulties of life.
They cited the cure was to 'fly to God', to trust in God, put convictions in perspective, to praise Him.
David said, 'It was my infirmity. Thou didst hide thy face and I was troubled.' Ps 30:7
Baxter wrote a sermon on The Cure of Melancholy and Overmuch Sorrow.
Most of them experienced similar difficulties. They were often preaching with threats hanging over their lives, concerned that they may be killed for their stand for Christ! This certainly was cause to cause them to brood and have great difficulty and concern for their wives and children!
Today we are easily so caught up in things of the world and our lives are so much more ordered but we still experience the same emotions, attacks by Satan, hardships, impaired relationships, grief and loss! These must be overcome to maintain our relationship with our sweet Lord!
I am presently sharing my home with 3 generations and I promise you I do have down days! This body, mind and emotional state is just not geared to do this easily and without great challenge! Most fortunately I have a wonderful support group from my church, friends and even being on CF but trust me, their are days when I wonder if I'm up to this task and even ask, "Is this what the Lord has in mind for me? How do I know this is all from His hand?Why cant I do a better job?"
It is all by His great grace and my goal is to honor and glorify Him BUT, there are times........I just wish He didnt trust me so much! lol

JimfromOhio · Dec 2, 2005

We all have down days, its part of our human (sinner) nature. I know I have my own down days and I have many of them.

McWilliams · Dec 2, 2005

JimfromOhio said:
We all have down days, its part of our human (sinner) nature. I know I have my own down days and I have many of them.

So true Jim! We have no righteousness of our own! When Christ took our sin he imputed His righteousness to us. We are clothed in His righteousness but still have that inherent sin nature that works full time to steer us off track! Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. Titus 3:5-7
We now have eternal life by virtue of the substitionary death of Christ as penalty for sinner's iniquity and we're now heirs with Christ because and only because of what He did on the cross! I thank Him!

JimfromOhio · Dec 2, 2005

McWilliams said:
So true Jim! We have no righteousness of our own! When Christ took our sin he imputed His righteousness to us. We are clothed in His righteousness but still have that inherent sin nature that works full time to steer us off track! Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. Titus 3:5-7
We now have eternal life by virtue of the substitionary death of Christ as penalty for sinner's iniquity and we're now heirs with Christ because and only because of what He did on the cross! I thank Him!

Amen

When we feel down, we need to remember that all things work together for my good and His Glory because of what God teaches me through them. God doesn't merely promise that temporal good will come out of difficult situations; He also affirms that all the bad things of this world can't keep us from glorification and heaven. "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." (Gal. 6:9)

PapaLandShark · Dec 2, 2005

Not admit we have our down days? Rarely a day goes by when I'm not down on my knees in one way or another before the Lord.

McWilliams · Dec 2, 2005

PapaLandShark said:
Not admit we have our down days? Rarely a day goes by when I'm not down on my knees in one way or another before the Lord.

Knee calluses, healthy signs of a right cure for spiritual depression! lol

Cajun Huguenot · Dec 2, 2005

I well admit that I have down days. Why would anyone thing a Calvinist would deny being Human?

King David had lots of down days as we can clearly see in the Psalms. I do try to practice what Paul says in Phil, 4:6-9. It is solid, very practical, advice.

"In nothing be anxious; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honorable, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. The things which ye both learned and received and heard and saw in me, these things do: and the God of peace shall be with you."

Soli Deo gloria,
Kenith

Paleoconservatarian · Dec 2, 2005

Yeah, I have my down days too. I usually find that it's my lack of faith that gets me into them.

One of my favorite verses is Zechariah 4:6, "Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts." I have a habit of trying to do God's will my way, instead of His way. I like to repeat this one to myself in my mind when I catch myself at it.

Paleoconservatarian · Dec 2, 2005

Cajun Huguenot said:
I do try to practice what Paul says in Phil, 4:6-9. It is solid, very practical, advice.

"In nothing be anxious; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honorable, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. The things which ye both learned and received and heard and saw in me, these things do: and the God of peace shall be with you."

Soli Deo gloria,
Kenith

There's another of my favorites.

Terri · Dec 2, 2005

Cajun Huguenot said:
Why would anyone thing a Calvinist would deny being Human?

Maybe someone just posted that because no one was posting in the thread and they knew that if they said that then at least the disagreeable people would post to well--disagree.

Or, perhaps they were just teasing.

tryme · Dec 2, 2005

I get varying degress of depression due to other health issues.
Fueling the fire is frustration from fibro fog.

I remember that all things work together for good for those that love God.

And He will not give us anymore than we can handle.

And in general just focus on God and what I still need to do for Him.

And if I am in a "quiet" mood I will spend my time in the Word.

Paleoconservatarian · Dec 2, 2005

magnify said:
And if I am in a "quiet" mood I will spend my time in the Word.

It is good to study the Word when in a quiet mood. But I find that it is when I am not quiet that I need the Word most. "For thus saith the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel; In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength: and ye would not" (Isaiah 30:15).

tryme · Dec 2, 2005

On topic with this thread...

"Quiet" mood refers to periods of depression when I do not want to intereact with other people.

It answers the question of the OP.

Paleoconservatarian · Dec 2, 2005

magnify said:
On topic with this thread...

"Quiet" mood refers to periods of depression when I do not want to intereact with other people.

It answers the question of the OP.

I see. Forgive my mistake.

tryme · Dec 2, 2005

Paleoconservatarian said:
I see. Forgive my mistake.

No problem.

Cajun Huguenot · Dec 3, 2005

Terri said:
Maybe someone just posted that because no one was posting in the thread and they knew that if they said that then at least the disagreeable people would post to well--disagree.

Or, perhaps they were just teasing.

Ok.Teasing can be fun for all parties. I was just to slow to see it as it is.

Kenith

JJB · Dec 3, 2005

I recall the verses that have already been posted by others: God works all things for good. He will not give us more than we are able. He is faithful. He is the author and finisher of our faith. All things come to us have already been touched by His hand.

I rejoice that in these times I must seek Him. After all, isn't that what we all want deep down? To depend on Him more? Sacrifice of praise is a blessing.

PapaLandShark · Dec 3, 2005

Just read the OP.

What gets me into such a state? Frustration, lack of patience, fear...I have a laundry list struggles at times. Fortunately I have a relationship with the greatest Launderer of all time.

I've posted my list of "favorites" a few times. Psalm 23, John 14:ff and John 15:ff are what I rest in on really bad days. Really just opening the Word and praying/talking with my Father uplifts my spirit.

Coping with 'down' days!

Senior Veteran

Senior Veteran

Senior Veteran

Life of Trials :)

Senior Veteran

Life of Trials :)

Post Tenebras Lux

Senior Veteran

Cajun's for Christ

God's grandson

God's grandson

Senior Veteran

Well-Known Member

God's grandson

Well-Known Member

God's grandson

Well-Known Member

Cajun's for Christ

Well-Known Member

Post Tenebras Lux

Similar threads

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency