But more often than not, there are people who are coming to me saying that they are in despair or they are depressed. Why is it that we as humans think that we can simply do whatever it is that we want to do and not really come to the Scriptures - the Words of Life - to find an answer to life's situations? I think the problem is ultimately our unbelief in the God of the Bible. We simply look to the so-called "experts" to tell us that we are depressed or we are ADD or ADHD or any other ailment that is dubbed as a "disease".
King David was one who dealt with depression. He was out there as the king of Israel but he kept doing things that were against God. Yet, he was called "a man after God's own heart." He wanted to do the right thing. He believed God and His Word to him but sometimes he really did think that his way was better than what God had for him.
Consider the Bathsheba incident. This was not a good time in the life of King David. He royaly messed things up due to his own sinful lusts for this woman. He ends up being covetous of another man's wife, he commits adultery, he lies about what has happened, he has her husband murdered and then after all of this he blows his top when Nathan the prophet tells him a story about a man who stole a lamb from another man. That's when Nathan dives right in and tells the king what he needed to hear: "Thou art the man, David!" Now that took guts! Nathan was not concerned about protection because he no doubt knew that God would protect him from any anger that might come from the king.
No anger came. No arguing came. Nothing from David except confession and repentance for all that he had done against God. After the incident, I think that King David came to understand that he could come to the throne of grace. It is evident in most of his writings in the Psalms. Read what David wrote in Psalm 142:
1 A Contemplation of David. A prayer when he was in the cave. I cry out to the Lord with my voice; with my voice to the Lord I make my supplication. 2 I pour out my complaint before Him; I declare before Him my trouble. 3 When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, then You knew my path. In the way in which I walk they have secretly set a snare for me. 4 Look on my right hand and see, for there is no one who acknowledges me; refuge has failed me; no one cares for my soul. 5 I cried out to You, O Lord: I said, "You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living. 6 Attend to my cry, for I am brought very low; deliver me from my persecutors, for they are stronger than I. 7 Bring my soul out of prison, that I may praise Your name; the righteous shall surround me, for You shall deal bountifully with me."
What a great example of where we should turn when we are in despair. What a great way to approach the Lord. It is the way that He desires for us to approach Him - by faith.
