The following is a quote by Lloyd-Jones given by John Piper in his book “Future Grace”, and I found it to be really encourageing. I think it will be especially so on Monday, since this is the day most pastors think about resigning :>)
“I say that we must talk to ourselves instead of allowing ‘ourselves’ to talk to us! Do you realize what that means? I suggest that the main trouble in this whole matter of spiritual depression in a sense is this, that we allow our self to talk to us instead of talking to our self. Am I just trying to be deliberately paradoxical? Have you realized that most of your unhappiness in life is due to the fact that you are listening to yourself instead of talking to yourself? Take those thoughts that come to you the moment you wake up in the morning. You have not originated them, but they start talking to you, they bring back the problems of yesterday, etc. Somebody is talking. Who is talking to you? Your self is talking to you. Now [the psalmist’s] treatment was this; instead of allowing this self to talk to him, he starts talking to himself. ‘Why art thou cast down, O my soul?’ he asks. His soul had been depressing him, crushing him. So he stands up and says: ‘Self, listen for a moment, I will speak to you…Why art thou cast down?–what business have you to be disquieted?…And then you must go on to remind yourself of God, Who He is, and what God is and what God has done, and what God has pledged Himself to do. Then having done that, end on this great note: defy yourself, and defy other people, and defy the devil and the whole world, and say with this man: ‘I shall yet praise Him for the help of His countenance.” From FUTURE GRACE, by John Piper, p. 304, paperback.
It is wise preacher/pastor if we do not make crucial decisions while we are in the pit of depression or discouragement. I think the above words are wise words to hear. Speak the Word of God to yourself.
Martha,
Thanks for the comment. It should be understood that Dr. Lloyd-Jones is speaking of speaking the Word of God to yourself. The Lord is one’s only resource for overcoming depression; and His Word.
Thanks again.
T.A.
LikeLike
This is a really powerful quote. I am reminded of a new book by Tom Wootton called, ‘The Depression Advantage’ in which he talks about changing the internal dialog that depressed people are having with themselves. He talks about the power inherent in depression that can lead to a deeper spiritual understanding of self and the manifestation of spirit in the depressed state.
LikeLike