Bright Spots in the Darkness: Meditations When You Are Depressed

By Rick Qualls

Its time for depression to come out of the church closet. Often, the churchs reaction to those depressed is, Just get over it, You have hidden sins in your life, Pray more, Have greater faith, or Read your Bible more.

People would never say to a diabetic, This is all in your head. Quit taking insulin. Nor would they say to someone with a broken leg, Just get up and walk. Those who are depressed take these messages, and it makes them feel more guilty instead of understood, driving them further from getting help.

Bright Spots in the Darkness offers inspiration, action points to manage depression and Bible promises. Bright Spots does not offer a quick and easy cure. Severe depression is not usually solved quickly or with self-help books. This book takes depression seriously and offers help along the journey.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Apr 20, 2017
• ISBN: 9781512782516

Rick Qualls

Rick is a recently retired American Baptist pastor who has suffered from bipolar disease throughout his forty-year ministry. Bright Spots was birthed from his personal and professional experience. He and his wife, Nancy, have been married for forty-three years. They have three grown children and five grandchildren. Rick enjoys bicycling, reading, and cruising down main street in his ’66 Mustang. His favorite name is Gampa. There are more free devotions and articles on the author’s website, www.rickqualls.com.

Book preview

Day 1

Congratulations!

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

—Matthew 5:3

C ongratulations! You have taken a courageous step. You have acknowledged your depression. This is not weakness. It is courage.

Jesus teaches in this beatitude that life is a paradox. What looks like weakness to the world is strength in the kingdom of heaven.

When we admit we are depressed and express our need for God’s strength, He is there. At the end of ourselves, we find God.

Does this mean there will be a quick healing of depression? Maybe and maybe not. But Jesus tells us we are not in the battle alone. We now have spiritual resources only God can give.

I have suffered depression for as long as I can remember. There have been seasons of depression that have taken me to the depths and then cycled to a normal mood. The cycle repeated itself until I was in my fifties when I had an emotional breakdown. Eventually my psychiatrist discovered I suffer from bipolar depression. Medication has leveled my emotions. The lows are never as low as they once were.

As we progress through these devotions, I will share parts of my journey. We are not alone in our struggles. In these pages, you will find insight into dealing with the dragon of depression.

Paul experienced paradox in his suffering.

Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong." 2 Corinthians 12:7–10 (NIV)

In God’s paradox, a weakness may be our strength.

Paul described a thorn from which he suffered. What was his thorn? We don’t know. We all have thorns. Everyone. Some find healing. For others, the thorn persists. But the lesson we learn is that God’s grace is at work—even when we don’t feel or understand