I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Psalm 27:13 (NIV)
The scariest part of going through a season of severe depression, was the thought that this was all there was, and things would forever remain the same. Oh thank goodness I don’t still believe that! I truly believe that hopelessness is one of the most evil emotions we can feel and it comes straight from the pit of nothingness. During my season of depression and hopelessness I knew logically that my life was not that bad, but depression has a very dominating voice, and a very believable one too, it’s the voice of despair, and it is very difficult to silence. Not only is your mind riddled with depression but your body has no motivation to walk it off or get busy trying to distract your thoughts. In the midst of depression your body is often in full surrender.
As hopelessness became my dominate emotion, I can across this scripture… I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Psalm 27:13 (NIV). In the Psalms the Psalmist wasn’t saying it with all glee and skipping, he was speaking out loud what his soul needed to start believing again! I knew that I had to start speaking this word over my mind and soul.
I didn’t believe it at first, it was cold, and unfeeling but every time a despairing thought would come, I would repeat “I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.” out loud. Then one day, things began to switch and hope started coming in again, and I began to believe this promise, and soon my hopelessness lifted.
God’s word has power.
The bible is filled with God’s promises, promises for us to have a future and a hope. God also promises us that we will see His goodness while we are still alive in this world. We may not believe it at first, despair has a way of hogging our attention, but the more we discipline ourselves to reflect on these promises, the more our minds align with them. Replacing fear with peace, depression with joy, and despair with hope, is what the bible is for.
This is the living power of God’s word!
