People in the Bible dealt with pretty significant low moods – that’s not a modern phenomenon. Elijah said, ‘I have had enough, Lord…Take my life’ (1 Kings 19:4 NIV). Job said, ‘I loathe my very life’ (Job 10:1 NIV). David wrote, ‘My soul is downcast’ (Psalm 42:6 NIV). There are times, as these three discovered, when your drive and mood can be completely sapped. Why? (We’re not talking about clinical depression here – that’s when you should search out professional help.) Being honest, here are a few possible causes: 1) Sin. Sin’s like a stone in your shoe. You’ll have no peace until you get it out. A relaxing holiday in the Bahamas won’t do the work. Just the blood of Jesus (have a read of 1 John 1:7). 2) Greed. King Ahab’s obsession with owning Naboth’s vineyard made him grumpy, moody, and ruined his family’s day (see 1 Kings 21:4). 3) Comparison. Comparison kills joy. It will just depress you (see 2 Corinthians 10:12). 4) Speaking negatively. ‘The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences’ (Proverbs 18:21 NLT). 5) Fatigue. Jesus called His disciples to rest, because He knew that when fatigue walks in, faith walks out (see Mark 6:31). 6) Unforgiveness. When you refuse to forgive someone, they’re a dead weight around your neck. So what’s the fix? Are you reflecting in prayer and Bible-reading? If you are, then it’ll sink to your core and do the work. Jeremiah, who battled depression, wrote, ‘When your words came, I ate them…they were my joy and my heart’s delight’ (Jeremiah 15:16 NIV).

What now?

God can give us the best in situations that feel like the worst. You can trust Him to help you ‘be of good cheer’ when life sees terrible (John 16:33). Have you seen the best in your situation yet?