Dealing With Despair

Introduction

Philippians chapter 4. It’s no secret that I’m a fan of a Disney franchise. Those of you who giggled are thinking of Star Wars, and Star Wars is awesome, but not what I’m going to speak of this morning. I also have always been, for a very long time at least, don’t you like that? Always have been for a very long time at least. Been a fan of the Winnie the Pooh series. And so when Christopher Robin came out, I know you’re laughing because it’s great, not because it’s funny that I’m preaching about it. When Christopher Robin came out this summer, Kosh and I were enthused, excited to go see it. I gotta tell you, we really enjoy the movie. And just one thing about it, it was nice to see good principles put in a movie and supported by a cast of people who didn’t have, by my count, one profane thing to say, or even any toxic cultural ideals stuffed into the film.

But what’s so fascinating and enjoyable is how simple the characters are. One of my favorite aspirational goals is when Winnie the Pooh said in the movie, people say nothing is impossible, but I do nothing every day. Words to live by, words to be excited about. Of course, one of the characters though is a little bit different than the rest, and that character is Eeyore. And he kind of is known for that persona and his even quote, that oh bother attitude. Many of you would be interested to know that Kashka and I actually know somebody who played Eeyore. He’s exactly like Eeyore, looks like him, acts like him. Spoil alert, it’s not Ken. I know you were thinking that. I’m not gonna say who it was, but we did.

We do know somebody who played Eeyore. What do you think about Eeyore? He’s so fun because he’s mixed in with Tigger and Pooh and the carefree attitude, or as Pooh describes himself, being a bear of little brain. Tigger has the excitement and the enjoyable attitude, and then there’s Eeyore, the stick in the mud. Or if you know the film, his tail somewhere in the mud. He’s always losing his tail. In fact, one tale of the tale, a tale of the tale, actually, in which Eeyore finally finds it. When the Pooh says, Eeyore, are you finally happy? He said, No, but I sure do like my new tale. See, sometimes people like Eeyore have an ability to take even a happy circumstance, a joyous occasion, and find the negative.

And sometimes it’s not a choice. Sometimes it’s something we do out of habit, and there’s some choice in habit, certainly. But sometimes, even as we really think about our Christian journey, I think we’ll be honest, pretty much everyone deals with despair at one time or another in life. We might be represented by the character Eeyore. We find the negative. And maybe that there is a lot of negative, and we don’t have to look far to find it. We are in fact enveloped in it, surrounded by it, seeing no way out of despair, and maybe from a worldly perspective, that may even be right. This morning, as we discussed dealing with despair, I want to add a couple of disclaimers. One of them is very simply when we think about depression, clinical depression.

We know a couple things about that nowadays, and one of them that’s very important to point out is there are some facets of being sad of depression that need to be treated like any other problem that our bodies may have. And that means it’s not necessarily a faith issue, but something that we should work on. And so take nothing that’s going to be said this morning as an antidote or a side story to take you away from getting help where you need it. But for many of us, including those who do suffer with even clinical depression, the scriptures, while not addressing that idea directly, have much to say about the attitude that we should have, the way we should view the world, and whether we should look at it kind of like Eeyore does, or maybe like someone who truly puts their faith in God.

The final disclaimer as we look at Paul’s points for progress in Philippians chapter 4, is to say that these are gonna seem general on the keynote, and here’s a spoiler alert. They are. But as we go through, I want us to make specific application, and I got bad news and good news. The good news is I don’t have three points this morning. And you know the bad news is I have eight. I have eight points this morning. Hopefully, you can identify with one or two, or really use three or four of these points. And maybe for your life for today, you and I can have a greater understanding of how great God is, how to be pulled up from the depths of despair. And if we’re not there, lock them away for later, or maybe even be willing to help somebody who is there.

Let’s study Paul’s points of progress in Philippians chapter 4, beginning in verse 4. He says, Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your request be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

I rejoice in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am in to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me. It’s very easy to look at Philippians chapter 4 and verse 13, or Philippians chapter 4 and verse 4, or 4 and verse 7, and say, there’s the answer, and the spoiler alert again is that is the answer. God is always the answer to our problems, 100% of the time.

1. Remember What God Has Done

The challenge this morning, as we study the Word of God, and as we go through what Paul has written here is to say, How can I benefit from? How can I access those great blessings that I know God wants to bestow to his children? And so the first one, if you go back to verse 4, is we have to remember what God has done.

It feels like a constant weight.

It not only keeps you from making happy memories, it sometimes can even give you quote unquote emotional amnesia. Sometimes when we’re in despair, we forget that we even had a time in which we were happy, a time in which we had happy thoughts and happy lives. Feel lonely. And we think that emotions are our God. And we refuse to let anybody help. One of the biggest struggles of depression and despair and sadness is that when we let ourselves be enveloped by it, when we are enveloped by it, whether by choice or otherwise, it’s very hard to see outside of what’s right in front of us. Philippians chapter 4 and verse 4, Paul says, Rejoice in the Lord always. Again, I will say, rejoice. How can we rejoice in the Lord?

Because as we already remember this morning, what did God do for us? He sent Jesus the Christ, the only begotten Son, to die on the cross for the sins of the whole world, John writes in 1 John chapter 2. And because there is salvation, we can rejoice as God’s children. Where is true joy and rejoicing found, though, in verse 4? In the Lord. There is no magic formula for happiness. There is something that God gives us for peace, and that’s to submit to Him and to allow Him to be our Heavenly Father. And so to follow after God would necessitate an understanding of who He is, what He’s offering, and yes, even what He requires and what God requires is great, but what He offers is amazing, and that much more so.

We need to remember what God has done. What has God done? You go back to Genesis chapter one, and in the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. In the beginning, Adam and Eve, who he formed from the dust of the ground and from the rib of man’s flesh, lived with God. He sent a flood on the entire world that destroyed the population, save Noah and his wife, his three sons and their wives. God is the God of Moses, who went to Pharaoh not once, not twice, but even at working ten miracles or ten plagues in Egypt, when Moses would say, Let my people go, and the hardened heart of Pharaoh made him say, I will not. It was God who parted the Red Sea.

It was God who gave law to Moses. And when Moses was up on the mountain, what was his face like? Because he was even nearer in some way to God. His face was shining so brightly. Words do not suffice. Our God is the one who gave us the word. And most importantly, it is the God who gave us his son. And when we remember what God has done, I need to wake up and remember today what God has already done for me in my life, up to and including the ability to wake up. The ability to say, God is great and God has blessed me today. Number one, and always most importantly, with the opportunity to be his child. But number two, to live in this world that he created, not only with me, but he created for his children for this short time.

2. The Lord Is Near, So Pray About Everything

It’s very hard to break out of a bubble of darkness. But we have to stop and make a list. Make the time to truly think through it, and not in the way that Eey did with the tale. The way to remember what God has done is not to say, yeah, God did that for the Israelites, but what has he done for me? Yeah, Jesus died on the cross for my sins, but why am I miserable? God is awesome. And he has shown us time and again how awesome he is. In verse 5, very interesting in Philippians chapter 4 and verse 5, let your reasonableness be known to everyone why. The Lord is at hand. Very commonly there’s two different ideas. What does it mean the Lord is at hand?

One would be the very comforting idea that God is near. He sees you, he hears you, he cares for you. And that’s true. A second main point of view is the Lord is near, meaning the day of the Lord is near, that the day of judgment is coming when Christians will rise up to be with their God. That day is near. And that’s very true and incredibly comforting for children of His. When you’re struggling in the depths of despair, Paul says, remember that the Lord is near. Whichever application you take, which are both backed by numerous New Testament scriptures, know that God cares for you and that he expects you to take advantage of what he offers as his children. And so what does that mean?

It’s easy to say, I am struggling, I see no way out, and you tell me God is near, but how does that help me today? It helps me because I know I don’t have the solutions to my problem. And if I’m being really honest, you don’t have the solutions to my problem either. But there is fantastic news this morning that God has the answers. And where is he? God is near. And if God is near, I am not alone, I am not stuck, and there is definitely something better waiting for me. See, Paul’s not doesn’t have any sort of magical formula that says, hey, if you say it this way eight times or you think this thing seven times, all of a sudden it’s going to be happy.

You can open your porch door, you can sing, and birds are going to come in and sweep up and clean up your place. Wouldn’t that be fantastic, though? The Lord is near. Means that God cares for his creation. And we are his creation. And not only does Genesis chapter 1 say God created us, how were we made, verse 26 of the first book of our Bibles? In the image of God. If God can and did make us in his image, how much does he care for you? And let me ask you this question. As we remember to be thankful, as we remember what God has done, does God owe us any more than what he’s already done? Of course not. What Jesus did for us always has to be the principal acting factor in our lives.

What motivates us, what drives us is the fact that God cares for us, that he’s nearby and watching. And because of that, because God is near, because he does care and he does hear, I will pray to him about everything. Because he’s real and he listens, not just because I think it will make my problems vanish away. In verse 6 of Philippians chapter 4, do not be anxious about anything. But in everything, by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.

It may be that in despair we look around and we feel and are isolated and alone. But remember, God is near. Even if everybody else fails you, if your job environment fails you, if your family fails you, if your Christian family, forbid it, were to fail you, God will never. And he will hear you. He desires to listen to you. Can you imagine how amazing and powerful it is to recognize there is a God who created us, who not only cares for us, but wants us to make every request known to him in conversation in prayer. That is unfathomable. The nearest illustration you can make is imagine a man, perhaps at this church you have known many in his 80s and his 90s. And as he comes to church to worship his God, he sees a four-year-old come in.

And the four-year-old runs up and just wants to tell him about his day, tell him about his shoes, and tell him about this new character named Winnie the Pooh. And rather than saying, I don’t have time for that, rather than acting as if he didn’t hear him, the older gentleman leans down, opens his arms, and says, Tell me more about Winnie the Pooh. That is so touching and sweet. But how much more so? Is it amazing, miraculous, and truly unfathomable that God stops to listen to me? That when you pray to him as his child, he cares for you. You know what that does? That changes the entire equation because now I can’t say I’m alone because God is there. I may doubt it, I may not understand his plan, but God is there.

And he will hear me so I’m not alone, and I’m not able to just talk to nobody. There is somebody who hears me. And most importantly, will God do something about it? Yes, because he wants something greater than this life. Why do we need to communicate with God so often? Why does prayer so constantly come up in sermons, in Bible study, and even in the passages that we study? Because our relationship with God has to transcend this life, and depression and despair makes us boggled down and think this life is where it’s at, and this life for me stinks. But God says, I have something better for you. I want you to be with me forever. But to do that, we have to have a relationship with our Heavenly Father that involves prayer, not just to get something, but to communicate with our great and awesome God.

3. Be Filled With Thanksgiving

And you also see in verse 6 the critical component there in everything by prayer and supplication, that your request be made known to God with also thanksgiving. And again, not that type of thanksgiving that says, yeah, but. Have you ever known somebody who everything you say they have a yeah but for it? We’re talking in our high school class this morning, even about the person who always has to one up a story. This is even more annoying than that trait. You say, What a great day it is. Yeah, it could be better. I love the cool weather. It’s colder somewhere. I just love the rain. You’re ridiculous. Why do you love rain? Always a reason, always a purpose that keeps us from being happy. As Eeyore would say, oh bother.

As we think about the idea of being filled with thanksgiving, it’s not just a one-time list. You don’t just sit down and make a list and all of a sudden have a thankful heart. Although, can I give you an application this morning? That would help us break through the despair and say, not only do I know conceptually God promises to be there, not only do I know theoretically that God is listening to my prayer, but I know also that I have a lot to be thankful for. And if I have a thankful heart, it will break through the shrouds of not only the loneliness, but to feel like the forces are out of my control. No, no, no. God is good and he cares for me, and I can point to a million reasons why and how.

Have you ever experienced love of a parent, a friend, or a spouse? Be thankful. Do you have a home? Do you have a car? Do you have a place to live, to get to and fro wherever it is you desire or maybe even need to go? Be thankful. Could it be that the preacher has 12 or 13 points? I don’t, I have eight. You should be thankful. Perspective matters. The way we examine our life will change the way we not only view it, it will change our hearts, and most importantly, it will impact our relationship with God. If we truly treat him as a God who is giving and one worthy of praise and honor, yes, but also all my thanks. And that changes my life entirely.

In Romans chapter 1, turn with me there. In Romans chapter 1, as Paul is examining the Gentiles and really writing down line for line their failure to please God, even though they should have seen him from creation, even though verse 20 says they were without excuse and understanding his divine nature and his power. Verse 21 was the beginning of the descent that concludes with verse 29 that they were filled with all manner of unrighteousness and evil. But where does it begin in verse 21? For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him. Rather, but they became futile in their thinking and their foolish hearts were darkened. We have to be filled with thanksgiving because we know God is worth giving thanks to and for.

How amazing is it just that we have a God that loves us. Be thankful that God is near. Be thankful you have had a family, that you have had friends, that you have a job, have a car, have a place to live. If you have any of the above, you are more blessed than most of this world. And most importantly, a thankful heart realizes it is not a competition. Sometimes we get filled with despair completely by our own selfish desires because we don’t feel we have what we deserve. Paul says something about what we deserve in the book of Romans as well. In verse 3 and verse 23, he says, all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. In Romans chapter 5, verses 6, 8, and 10, we’re described as weak, ungodly, sinners, and enemies of God.

If we got what we deserved, I promise you we wouldn’t like it. Praise be to God. All glory, honor, and thanks be to him. That there’s something better than this life. Can I be really transparent this morning that there is no scriptural cure for stepping out and all of a sudden having a pain-free, super enjoyable by American standards life. There is a promise that we can be with God forever, though. And if you believe that there is an eternity to be with our Creator, whatever you face in this life, however long it lasts, remember it’s temporary. And that’s the key. That God wants to be with us forever. And we may struggle temporarily, but even here and now, there’s a lot to be thankful for. I told you there’s eight points.

4. Trust That God Can Do the Impossible

Here’s number five. Trust that God can do the impossible. When you look at number seven, when you look at verse 7 of Philippians chapter 4, we’ll see that there’s a powerful point inherent here. Paul says, the peace of God which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. I gotta tell you, as a student, I don’t really like when I have to understand something that’s described as impossible. Hey, I have good news, everybody. You can have the peace of God. How do I get that? It’s impossible to fully comprehend. What’s impossible, though? How to get that? Or the peace that God offers. Look at Ephesians chapter 3. I think this is another powerful verse. You want to be thankful for God? Look at Ephesians chapter 3 and be thankful this God is in our corner.

In Ephesians chapter 3 and verse 20, note every single word describing how powerful and mighty God is. Ephesians chapter 3 and verse 20, now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think according to the power of work within us. To him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations forever and ever. Amen. You want to know about God, verse 20? He is able to do far more abundantly than all that we can even ask or think. The problem with despair and depression is I get to deciding what is and isn’t possible, who is and isn’t in my corner, and what is or isn’t fair play, or God looking out for me, or my friends and family looking out for me.

That’s not how God works. He doesn’t be God to us on our terms. We submit to him on his. And the good news is, as Paul wrote in Philippians chapter 4 and verse 7, he offers us his peace, which surpasses understanding. Are you struggling with despair, not finding a way out? Feeling like there’s nowhere to turn, that it’s unfair, that you’re trapped, you’re stuck, and you don’t understand why. The good news is God can do the impossible. We should never give up. We should never give in. Never take God out of the equation. Because his peace is the only solution to this world’s chaos. If we continue to judge ourselves based on the standards and the expectations of the American dream, we’re not only missing God’s will, we’re missing out on how much better God’s will is for us.

God’s will has never been the American dream. God’s will has always been that his people come to him and accept him as his heavenly Father and all that that entails. In so doing, God has proven through miracles, through sending his son, and through the inspired word that we carry around in our phones and have in the pews before us all, that he can do the impossible. Do you really believe that God can do the impossible? Perhaps the naysayer says, yeah, God can, but he doesn’t. At some points we have to learn not only that my will isn’t God’s, but that maybe there’s something to be gained from this rough experience that I’m facing. And it may be that there’s not. It may be that my sinful choices put me in a spot God never wanted me to be in.

5. Fill Our Lives With God’s Purposes and Others’ Needs

But here’s the good news. You go back to our list, you remember what God has done. Know that God is near, take your concerns to God in prayer. Have a thankful heart for all that you do have. And then, just with those steps, you can understand already. God can do the impossible. What an amazing God. Amen. Verses 8 and 9 teach us we need to fill our lives with God’s purposes. Philippians chapter 4 and verse 8 again. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and there the God of peace will be with you.

See, we can understand how to come to God. Obviously, to be in the Lord means to submit to him. How do we access the peace? Practice those things we’ve learned and received and heard and seen in Paul. He tells the Philippian brethren. One of the problems with what depression does, treated or untreated, is it makes us sit on the sidelines rather than be engaged in the fight, Ephesians chapter 6 tells us we have to be it. And the problem is there’s not a sideline. There is on God’s side or not. Take the battle to the one tempting you. Take the battle to God’s enemy, God’s adversary. Satan means literally the word is adversary. If we fill our lives with doing God’s things, doing God’s purposes, fulfilling his role, then I realize first and foremost, I have a role to play.

That God’s will is being done. And third, even if I may not be benefiting in the way I think I could, even if my life isn’t turning out the way I thought it might, I know that I can impact others so they don’t face what I’m facing. See how a mindset makes all the difference. Nothing Paul said promises an easy existence. But he does show us that if we focus and proactively fill our plates, fill our hearts, fill our minds with what is good, there’s less room for what is evil. And what happens when we’re in despair, we shut out the good, we take in the bag, and we self-loathe. I’m terrible at this.

Nobody cares for me. If we’d open our eyes and listen with our ears, we’d see that if nothing else, God sees you. God loves you. And God can use you if you submit to him. Fill your plate, fill your heart, fill your time with God’s will. And then there’s no time. There’s no reasonable logical explanation to say, God doesn’t care for me. God can’t use me. And God’s plan doesn’t work. If you live it, you’ll see how wonderful and powerful God is. And as we’re doing that, what’s the benefit in verse 9? The peace of God will be yours. Consider with me, seventh. Focus on the needs of others in verse 10. As Paul is writing this letter, of course, there’s a familiar touch here, and he says, I rejoice in the Lord greatly.

Now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. He’s speaking, of course, at least in large part about the financial help he’d receive. He goes on to reiterate that in verses 11 through the rest of the chapter. But consider that Paul, when you go to chapter 1 of the book of Philippians, and you go to chapter 4, he bookends this letter with his love for the brethren, and you see their love for Paul. Can I please make two desperate points with you this morning? One of the ways that we practice God’s will, that we can pull ourselves out of despair, and yes, even depression is by serving God fully and focusing not on my struggles but on others’ needs.

But secondly, if you are struggling, if you feel no one is there, if the Christian obligation, if the Christian responsibility, if the Christian opportunity is to look out for the needs of others and to help them when they have it. Then when I have a need or you have a need, I have to bite my lip and hold up my hand and say, somebody help me. That shows me nobody is alone. That shows me people care for me. You are not alone. And you have to know not only is God there for you, but that we as a congregation are there for you too. That means I have to look out to help others, and I have to be willing to take help when it’s offered.

6. Learn to Be Content

One final point this morning, I have to learn to be content. The bottom line is there’s a bunch of different things we can do, a bunch of Bible passages we could read. There’s all the blessings of God to see. There’s so many things to be thankful for. There’s so much to look to God and give him honor, give him praise, to look at his plan and action. But the bottom line is sometimes we just have to shape up. In verse 11, not that I’m speaking of being in need. Paul says, for I have learned in whatever situation I am in to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.

What is Paul’s secret? How did he get through the roughest of times and the poshest of times? How did he get through the biggest struggle? And when his heart was most at ease from a physical perspective. Verse 13, because he learned to trust in God. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. It’s easy to say to somebody who’s struggling in the depths of despair, be content. It’s easy to look at someone and say, you just need to trust in God. And as we said from the outset, that’s always, that’s not always the only thing to do. But it certainly would help us a tremendous deal if we learned every day in despair or out of it to thank God for his tremendous blessings.

Conclusion

To thank him that Jesus died on the cross for our sins. Yes, mine and yours too, no matter where you’ve been or where you think you’re stuck. God has the true solution. It is only the peace of God that surpasses understanding. It only is only the God who can do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, who can save us and pull us out of this muck. But you’ve got to trust him and take his hand when he reaches it down. If you’re in the depths of despair this morning, please recognize you are not alone. God cares for you. We care for you. And God wants you to be his child. All of these blessings are wonderful. All the ability to speak to God in prayer to know that he cares for you, that’s powerful, that’s wonderful.

But most importantly, God wants you to be his child. And if you’ve never become a Christian, recognize if you are a believer that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God. If you’ll confess him as the risen Savior and what that means, both in the confession of the true event and what that means as being Lord in our life. If you repent of your sins and are baptized, you can have your sins forgiven. And it doesn’t matter what they were, you can be washed clean. Maybe you’re a Christian and you’ve never truly trusted in God.

You’ve drifted and you’ve gotten to where you think you can’t come back, you can’t be wiped again. God says, if you’ll confess your sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us of our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. We’re a family. We’ll pray with you, we’ll pray for you. If we can help you in any way, come forward as we stand and sing the invitation song.