SAD and BET

Here in North America it is that time of the year when the days are at their shortest. It is supposed to be a joyful season, but some people have what is called seasonal affective disorder or SAD. This is a generalized depression that seems to be brought on by the reduced amount of light. Many of us are probably affected by this phenomenon, but for some people it is a serious challenge requiring professional help.

 The Scriptures recognize that we will become down, discouraged and even depressed for various reasons. And, of course, we can get into one of these states at any time of the year, but I wouldn’t be surprised if it isn’t more common during this time of long nights.

At any rate the writer of Psalm 42 gives us what we might call biblically effective therapy (or BET) that can help us deal with those dips in mood whatever their cause. And what is at the heart of this therapy? Brace yourself. It is learning to talk to yourself.  Twice in the Psalm he asks himself this question:

Why are you cast down, O my soul,

and why are you in turmoil within me?

And then twice he talks back to himself with these words:

Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,

my salvation and my God.  Psalms 42:11 (ESV)

Most of us are going to be downcast, sometime, for some reason. There are times when the solution is not simple, but there are many times when the best thing is not take it lying down, but to talk to ourselves, and speak the truth in love.

Psalm 42

    For the director of music. A maskil^[c] of the Sons of Korah.

 ¹ As the deer pants for streams of water,
   so my soul pants for you, my God.
² My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
   When can I go and meet with God?
³ My tears have been my food
   day and night,
while people say to me all day long,
   “Where is your God?”
⁴ These things I remember
   as I pour out my soul:
how I used to go to the house of God
   under the protection of the Mighty One^[d]
with shouts of joy and praise
   among the festive throng.

 ⁵ Why, my soul, are you downcast?
   Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
   for I will yet praise him,
   my Savior and my God.

 ⁶ My soul is downcast within me;
   therefore I will remember you
from the land of the Jordan,
   the heights of Hermon—from Mount Mizar.
⁷ Deep calls to deep
   in the roar of your waterfalls;
all your waves and breakers
   have swept over me.

 ⁸ By day the LORD directs his love,
   at night his song is with me—
   a prayer to the God of my life.

 ⁹ I say to God my Rock,
   “Why have you forgotten me?
Why must I go about mourning,
   oppressed by the enemy?”
¹⁰ My bones suffer mortal agony
   as my foes taunt me,
saying to me all day long,
   “Where is your God?”

 ¹¹ Why, my soul, are you downcast?
   Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
   for I will yet praise him,
   my Savior and my God.