Overcoming Spiritual Depression
The following is an adapted excerpt from Spiritual Depression: Its Causes and Cure.
Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law. Romans 3:28
THE TRUE FOUNDATION
There can be no doubt that the condition known as spiritual depression is a very common complaint; the more one thinks about it, and the more one speaks about it, the more one discovers how common it is. We are considering this condition because there are at least two great reasons for our doing so. The first is that it is very sad that anybody should remain in such a condition. But the second reason is still more serious and important, that is that such people are very poor representatives of the Christian faith. As we face the modern world with all its trouble and turmoil and with all its difficulties and sadness, nothing is more important than that we who call ourselves Christians, and who claim the Name of Christ, should be representing our faith in such a way before others, as to give them the impression that here is the solution, and here the answer.
In a world where everything has gone so sadly astray, we should be standing out as people characterized by a fundamental joy and certainty in spite of conditions, in spite of adversity. Now that, I think you will agree, is the picture which is given of God's people everywhere in the Scriptures, whether it is the Old Testament or the New. Those men of God stood out in that way, and, whatever their circumstances and conditions, they seemed to possess a secret which enabled them to live triumphantly and to be more than conquerors. It therefore behooves us to examine this state of spiritual depression very closely.
WE MUST FACE OURSELVES
We must really face ourselves. In other words, we must talk to ourselves instead of allowing ourselves to talk to us. We must take ourselves in hand; we must address ourselves as the Psalmist addressed himself and his soul, and ask the question: “Why art thou cast down? Why art thou disquieted within me?” You have no right to be like this. Why are you depressed and cast down? He faces himself and talks to himself; he argues with himself and brings himself back to the position of faith. He exhorts himself to have faith in God, and then he is in a condition to pray to God. I want to take up this method which is advocated by the Psalmist.
The vital principle is that we must face ourselves and examine ourselves, and if we are among those that never seem to know the joy of salvation and the joy of the Lord, we must discover the cause. The causes are many, and it seems to me that the essence of wisdom in this matter is to deal with these causes one by one and to take them in detail. Nothing must be taken for granted. Indeed, it could easily be established that the main cause of trouble in this matter is the fatal tendency to take things for granted. More and more do I find this to be the case as I talk to others about these matters. There are so many people who never seem to arrive at the true Christian position because they are not clear in their minds about certain primary matters, certain fundamental things that should be dealt with at the beginning . . . .
JUSTIFICATION
I am suggesting that this is the case with large numbers of people still. They have assumed that they are right about the first things, but they never have been right about their justification, and it is just here that the devil causes confusion. This confusion is an old trouble. In a sense, it is the masterpiece of Satan. He will even encourage us to be righteous as long as he has us confused at this point. It suits him well that such people should be concerned about sanctification and holiness and various other things, but they can never be right until they are right here, and that is why we must start with this. It is no use going on to deal with the superstructure if the foundation is not right. We therefore start with this great doctrine of justification.
Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law. Romans 3:28
Do you understand the doctrine of justification? Do you believe you are justified by faith alone in Christ alone apart from anything you have done or will do?
*Interested in Dr. Lloyd-Jones sermon series on spiritual depression? Find the sermons here.
Meet the author:
D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones (1899—1981) was a Welsh Protestant minister, preacher, and medical doctor who was influential in the Reformed wing of the British evangelical movement in the 20th century. For almost 30 years, he was the minister of Westminster Chapel in London.
In many ways, Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones is responsible for the resurgence of interest in the Puritans we are experiencing in the late 20th and early 21st centuries. Learn more about Lloyd-Jones’ life in Logic on Fire: The Life and Legacy of Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones.