Healing when I’m depressed, praising and adoring God

Lord, how can we possibly praise You when we’re miserable with depression? So lonely, gloomy, suffocating, foggy, a shell of a person. You know what this feels like…thank You for giving us tangible gifts to see and words to sing-pray, as Your healing balm.

For this, we interrupt this depression with adoring praise to You.

Singing to Jesus when I’m depressed

Giver of immortal gladness,
Fill us with the light of day.

(“Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee,” Van Dyke, H., 1907)

[Jesus] was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light (Mt. 17:2 ESV).

Joyful, joyful, we adore Thee,
God of glory, Lord of love,

Hearts unfold like flowers before Thee,
Opening to the sun above.

Melt the clouds of sin and sadness;
Drive the dark of doubt away.

Lord, You came…

to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace (Lk. 1:79 ESV).

Seeing Your created beauty, remembering who You are, when I’m depressed 

All Thy works with joy surround Thee,
Earth and heaven reflect Thy rays.
Stars and angels sing around Thee,
Center of unbroken praise.

But you, O LORD, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head (Ps. 3:3 ESV).

Field and forest, vale and mountain…

the one who by his strength established the mountains, being girded with might (Ps. 65:6 ESV).

Flowery meadow, flashing sea…

He divided the sea and let them pass through it, and made the waters stand like a heap (Ps. 78:13 ESV).

Chanting bird and flowing fountain
Call us to rejoice in Thee.

Resting in Your joy when I’m depressed

Thou art giving and forgiving,
Ever blessing, ever blest,
Well-spring of the joy of living,
Ocean depth of happy rest.

These things I have spoken to you, that MY joy may be in you, and that YOUR joy may be full (Jn. 15:11 ESV, emphasis added).

Thou our Father, Christ our Brother…

Looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith,

who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross,

despising the shame,

and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God (Heb. 12:2 ESV).

All who live in love are Thine.

Teach us how to love each other;
Lift us to the joy divine.

Resting in Your unceasing love

Mortals, join the mighty chorus
which the morning stars began;
Love divine is reigning o’er us,
Leading us with mercy’s hand.

But God, 

being rich in mercy, 

because of the great love with which he loved us, 

even when we were dead in our trespasses, 

made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—

and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,

so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus (Eph. 2:4-7 ESV).

Ever singing, march we onward,
Victors in the midst of strife.

Asking for Your healing help, putting on a garment of praise

Joyful music leads us sunward
In the triumph song of life.

Send out your light and your truth; let them lead me; let them bring me to your holy hill and to your dwelling! (Ps. 43:3 ESV)

Lord, please give my sisters in Christ a “garment of praise,” especially if they’re experiencing the slogging slow motion of depression right now. As with many strong and mature believers, it can be a chronic part of our life in this world. If any would benefit from my gift of worship music that sings of Your joy within us, please use it as Your healing balm, an “oil of gladness.” In all things, may You alone be glorified as we simply come to You when we’re depressed. In the name of our righteousness and joy, Jesus Christ, amen.

Resources of Singing Christ’s Hope

This week’s music therapy-inspired, professionally curated playlist gift sings to Jesus, with the goal of filling our thoughts, hearts, and bodies with truths of His Word, lifting them up into authentic adoration and praise while living with depression. The songs help us come to our Lord, asking Him for help to walk through another hour, with His joy and love within. For sister, He IS in us, by His Spirit! Let’s ask our Lord for help to praise Him, into the depression, as we rest in Him. Praying this helps.