went through a huge battle this season. well, i do every season but this one was beyond anything i have endured before. beginning to see what God is planning. amazing.
.-= Crystal Renaud´s last blog ..Project 365: January 6, 2009 =-.

It’s funny, I don’t think I’ve thought of it like that, but certainly I’ve recognised that when God is about to do something incredible through me or around me, I get ‘attacked’ in some way – whether it be depression or illness or a bathroom caving in when I have zero cash in my bank account & inadequate insurance cover.

It’s those times of struggle, of battling that I’ve come closer to God, learned more, appreciate more, come out the other side with an better and more eternal perspective on life.
.-= Laura Anne (@koalainscotland)´s last blog ..Preparing =-.

Jud — I have gone through two major depressions in my life — the first being just after my divorce a couple years ago and the second was just a week ago. Since the first, I have found an amazing woman who wants to journey on the same spiritual path as myself and I have never felt such a strong connection. Getting myself through the second — worrying about my finances and not seeing the ability to climb out of the economic hole I found myself in — I was blessed with the epiphany — my son is happy. Needless to say, can’t wait for Strapped this weekend at Central. So, I guess the answer to your question is a resounding YES!

Thank you for this! I really needed to hear this word today

Crazy post Jud. I just had this conversation with my wife yesterday. I’ve been such a curmudgeon around the house recently and yet, have such an expectation of something really, really good. I told her its as if there’s sub-concious issues being dealt with, ego being put to death, and my flesh is so disappointed at losing another foothold in this life… I’ll take this as confirmation to the inner workings while I continue to subdue the grumpy fart manifestations.
.-= Angus Nelson´s last blog ..My Way or My Way =-.

Jud,
This post is huge for me. Thanks. I’ve been “good” for most of my life leading up to about 6 years ago where I think I was depressed for the first time. I’ve had probably 3 or 4 times since then of about 6 months where I’m in the pit and can’t do anything it seems but dig deeper. I’m kinda coming out of one right now. I think what Spurgeon said has been true in my life and I’m seeing that truth even clearer today. Depression (if that’s what it was for me) has been the hardest thing I’ve ever faced and in the midst of it would do anything to not go through it. But today I’m actually thankful for those times b/c I see that God used them to bring me to where I am today and make me who I am. I’m scared to say that b/c I’d rather not be in a state of depression again, but I’m learning that it will likely happen again but I’ve got Him with me to get to the other side.

it’s a great point. don’t think it’s a happy one that everyone would get too excited about per se. but it’s a great thing to consider.

thanks for pointing it out. already feeling a bit better about life. must have a blessing on the way… : )
.-= thomas´s last blog ..memories for me =-.

I think this might be true for many people, but for those battling clinical depression I don’t see this at all. Me and my wife are a good example. This holds true for me pretty much, but in her ongoing battle the feelings of depression aren’t always related to anything situational. I know a lot of people will disagree with this, but I am far from convinced that there is anything spiritual about physical depression outside the fact that we are are fallen creatures who suffer the consequences of sin in our world.
.-= Bruce Nuffer´s last blog ..Five television shows which should not be preserved in a time capsule =-.

I needed to hear this today. I had never thought of it in these terms before.

Thank you.
.-= Michelle´s last blog ..Our New Adoption “Macy” =-.

Depression is so…paralyzing. It is just brutal in its own way. Love hearing your stories of how God is redeeming it and brings good out of it. I’ve been working on a book titled “Torn” that explores these issues. It has been really powerful for me to spend time reading about people like St. John of the Cross, Spurgeon, William Cowper the poet, David Brainerd and others. It is amazing how many people God used in huge ways went through consistent and reoccurring struggles with depression. You aren’t alone!

It seems as if the old saying “it’s always darkest before the dawn” rings true for a lot of us. Like the old Bruce Carroll song says, “Something good is bound to happen, or the devil would not be working overtime”, I tend to think that the Adversary wouldn’t be working so hard against me if God didn’t have something wonderful for me just around the corner, and all I have to do is find a way to press through whatever I’m going through. Asking God for help in “pressing on”, and believing that God will help just because he loves us, helps tremendously…

I love this thought because I have seen it in my life. I am learning that when I find myself struggling the most the Lord is trying to speak to me to change/clean out/purge something in my life to make me more like him and often deep down I am fighting that. I may think I am willing on the outside but when I can get to a point of truly seeing the condition of my heart I find I am rebellious. When I surrender and let him be Lord the depression lifts and the most recent time (I have gone through this 3 or 4 times) I found such incredible joy because I finally realized what these struggles were about. They were about God loving me so much that he wants me to be like him and wants to provide blessings in my life!

Thank you, Jud! I never really thought of it in that perspective! For me, I know depression forces me to act to get me out a bad situation. Its almost a reminder of how I should be acting, as a Daughter of God. I know God always provides, but I also know that I need to get myself out of the slump and recognize the good things that God has provided in my life. To be honest, I have been able to fight my depression better since I started to put my focus on God. While I cannot say its completely gone (I have diagnosed with clinical depression since I was 16), I know I can overcome those times with God, family and friends.

I guess what I’m trying to say is, its all about who I put my faith and focus on. This works for me, but everyone will have a different way to look at it.
.-= Mary´s last blog ..Nevada Governor’s Education Proposal =-.

I can say that in hindsight this is very true. However as one sits in depression it is difficult for most of us to believe that any good could come, especially if the depression has been going on for any amount of time. Perhaps this quote will help many of us to see and accept God’s grace and the blessing that is to come. I just pray that it comes quicly because it has been quite a long time now sitting in depression. Thanks for the hope Jud

I’m glad to know that I’m not the only one that goes through this. (I’m not glad that others do, just glad to not be alone). I am in the mist of depression right now. But I do know that this is just a battle and when I get through this with God’s help, He has something greater in mind for me. Maybe the depression is just a test to see how we come out of it? If we come out of the depression with a stronger and closer relationship with God, then we are truly better for it…

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I was diagnosed as ‘clinically depressed’ in August. I don’t really know what that means, but I have (at times) felt that there is a corner to be turned up ahead.
.-= Steve Lowe´s last blog ..The end =-.

I’ve never thought about depression in this manner. It makes sense, though, and certainly gives me hope in my own struggle with depression.
.-= John Riggs´s last blog ..6. To be covered by the grace of God =-.

Depression have never experienced but this past year was brutal. If I did not believe it was preparing me for something then it was a waste of time, energy and spiritual struggle. I don’t want to believe it was a waste. Good post jud. Thanks.
.-= bill cycleguy´s last blog ..Warts and All =-.

I’ve wondered about this in the past. I’ve struggled through those seasons fairly frequently for as long as I can remember. If nothing else, just breaking out of that depression can seem like a victory in itself.

Have to also agree with Bruce, though, about those suffering from clinical depression. Sometimes it’s spiritual, but for some people it’s a straight-up chemical imbalance in the physical brain that needs healing.
.-= Lex´s last blog ..What is Righteousness? =-.

To be honest, no. I don’t mean to be fatalistic but God hasn’t shown me even a smidge of the other side of the cloud yet.

I hope it’s preparing me for something. I really don’t want to think I’m going through it for nothing.
.-= Jason´s last blog ..31 Days in Proverbs Day 7: We need to be a Gambini =-.

Does this dark clowd always come before something great?

Just wondering with your experience.

@kyle i do think its often true in my life and usually the significant things have flowed from time of depression, angst, discontenment, or pain. i think their is definitely a correlation in what i have experienced in my life. though i know its not true for everyone.

@Kyle I agree with Mike. I look back over my life and it has truly been a roller coaster with a lot of up’s and down’s. What I have noticed in my life is that as I have grown closer to God the lows seem to not last as long and the high’s are even better than what I was hoping for. It’s hard for me to not attribute this to God. I look at some of my friends and see them struggling with depression or just tough life issues and the ones that seem to never be able to pull themselves up don’t know God! I’m sure that there are a lot of people that are doing great without God in there lives and a lot of people who know God and are struggling. But God truly is the difference in my life…

Wow. Thanks for this post. I have wrestled with depression over the past six months, after coming off a three year stint taking antidepressants. The depression has finally lifted over the past two months.

This quote from Spurgeon gives me great hope for the future.
.-= Chad Payne´s last blog ..How Can Silent Monks Sing Hallelujah? =-.

I have never read some more true. This was a true blessing!

stumbled onto this quote tonight, and it really stopped me in my tracks for reflection. So many times, I think depression or struggles will never end, but this is a great awakening, looikng back I can see how God has always been preparing me during those times of darkness for his Glorious reveal! Thanks!

[...] C. H. Spurgeon thought on storms… “This depression comes over me whenever the Lord is preparing a larger blessing [...]