Do you have a HEAVY heart?
The Bible talks about this.
The Problem and Solution
The Psalmist understood how the burdens of life can weigh a person down.
Psalms 69:20,21:
Reproach hath BROKEN MY HEART; and I am FULL OF HEAVINESS: and I looked for some to take pity, but there was none; and for comforters, but I found none.
They gave me also gall for my meat; and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.
There are so many people today who have broken hearts and are full of heaviness. They look for pity and comfort in worldly solutions, but find none.
This scripture in Psalms was ultimately fulfilled in Jesus Christ, who drank gall and vinegar [sour wine] when being crucified. Jesus experienced the lowest and deepest pains and sorrows of any person [Isaiah 53:4]. He took our deepest sorrows upon him so that we can have peace.
Isaiah 53:5:
But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of OUR PEACE WAS UPON HIM; and with his stripes we are healed.
Sherry and I just spoke with a woman who has battled depression for decades. She is a Christian and has helped others be delivered. We reminded each other that Jesus Christ is the ONLY WAY to the Father and salvation. That salvation includes eternal life AND deliverance from evil this day.
Solomon experienced sorrows, and wrote about it to those who would follow him.
Proverbs 12:25:
HEAVINESS IN THE HEART of man maketh it stoop: but a GOOD WORD maketh it glad.
Perhaps we all have experienced this. I have been in “wells” of depression and heavy sorrow. This is caused by evil spirit influence and oppression. We must overcome this evil and defeat these attacks with the “good word” of the gospel of Christ!
The Hebrew word translated “stoop” in the verse is used many times throughout the Bible to mean “bow down” or worship. The devil wants to make our hearts so depressed that we will worship him and acknowledge his hurtful influence in our lives. But we have an ANSWER to this hateful plan. When we know who we are in Christ and all that God has done for us through His Son [the good news of our risen Lord], our heart will REJOICE!
John 16:20,22:
Verily, verily, I say unto you, That ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: and ye shall be sorrowful, but your SORROW SHALL BE TURNED INTO JOY.
And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and YOUR JOY NO MAN TAKETH FROM YOU.
Jesus’ disciples were sad that he would be gone. But that DID turn to joy when they saw him in his risen body for 40 days. And it grew even more so when they were born again and filled with the power of the holy spirit soon after on the day of Pentecost! No one can take away that true joy. Now WE rejoice evermore!
1 Thessalonians 5:16:
Rejoice evermore.
Philippians 4:4:
REJOICE in the Lord ALWAY: and again I say, Rejoice.
What DOES NOT Overcome Depression
Some people try to “laugh their problems away.” They find temporary and worthless solace in drugs or alcohol or entertainment or sex. They think they are “medicating” their heaviness and sorrow. But it only brings greater hurt and heaviness to their souls.
Proverbs 14:12,13:
There is a way which SEEMETH RIGHT unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
Even IN LAUGHTER THEIR HEART IS SORROWFUL; and the END OF THAT MIRTH IS HEAVINESS.
How can we help someone who is depressed and sorrowful? It is not by telling them to “cheer up” or trying come up with some “happy” activity for them. It is only by getting to the root cause and overcoming spiritual attacks with truth.
Proverbs 25:20-22:
As he that taketh away a garment in cold weather, and as vinegar upon nitre, so is he that SINGETH SONGS TO A HEAVY HEART.
If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink:
For thou shalt heap coals of fire [warm them] upon his head, and the LORD shall reward thee.
This is such amazing truth! Telling someone who is depressed to be happy is like taking away a fleece or down coat from a man in the chill of winter. It is like pouring vinegar [acidic] on sodium carbonate or a similar alkaline substance.
I saw this when I was young. My dad was a chemist at a glass factory. He would bring home reagents to show color differences when mixed with acids and bases. Years later, I helped our son make a “volcano” by pouring vinegar on baking soda. When vinegar is poured on niter, it produces a fizzing reaction, symbolizing agitation or disturbance. That is what happens when people try to tell depressed people to “cheer up.” They only get more agitated on the inside.
What DOES Overcome Depression
Rather than singing cheerful songs, true healing and deliverance comes when we give bread, drink, and warmth to those who need it. Spiritually, we offer the bread of life [God’s Word], living waters [salvation in Christ], and warmth [God’s white-hot love from our hearts and fellowship with them as believers].
God says WE CAN DO THIS. In fact, God has Paul quote these verses from Proverbs in his letter to the Romans. Then he offers this conclusion:
Romans 12:21:
Be not overcome of evil, but OVERCOME EVIL WITH GOOD.
Paul had heaviness of heart about people who refused to accept God’s deliverance and salvation in Jesus Christ.
Romans 9:2,3:
That I have GREAT HEAVINESS and continual sorrow IN MY HEART.
For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh.
Paul saw how much Jesus Christ had set him free, and he wanted it for other Judeans. He used a figure of speech to show how deeply this weighed on his heart. He would not literally give up his salvation, but that is HOW MUCH he longed for his “kinsmen” to be saved.
Jesus Christ Brings Salvation and Healing
This salvation in Christ is the ONLY ANSWER to spiritual oppression and mental depression. Isaiah promised that the coming Messiah would bring true deliverance.
Isaiah 61:1-3:
The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to PREACH GOOD TIDINGS unto the meek; he hath sent me to BIND UP the brokenhearted, to PROCLAIM LIBERTY to the captives, and the OPENING OF THE PRISON to them that are bound;
To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;
To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of JOY FOR MOURNING, THE GARMENT OF PRAISE FOR THE SPIRIT OF HEAVINESS; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.
What great promises to come that God’s people hoped for! And they are ALL FULFILLED IN JESUS CHRIST.
Luke 4:17-21:
And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written,
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,
To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.
And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him.
And he began to say unto them, This day is THIS SCRIPTURE FULFILLED IN YOUR EARS.
Jesus brings salvation that forgives ALL our sins, and heals ALL our diseases. That includes heaviness of heart and depression. Let’s lift our hearts in praise to the Father Who gave us His Son to meet ALL OF OUR NEEDS.
Lamentations 3:41:
Let us LIFT UP OUR HEART with our hands unto God in the heavens.
Amen. I love you.
