Scripture and Song

 A few days ago a dear friend cried on the phone.  She was discouraged about life in general, depressed about her health, her relationships, her living conditions, her future.  She felt she just could not go on.  All of us experience depression to some degree in our lives. I had advice for her, honed by bouts of depression in my own life--Scripture and song.  Read, memorize, listen to Scripture, especially in the Psalms.  Listen to music; sing it yourself.

At one point in the darkest time of my life, I went through the book of Psalms and marked every Psalm that spoke to my situation.  Then I recorded those Psalms on a CD.  Each evening when I headed for bed I started that CD playing next to my bed.  I quoted with the CD and the Scripture went deeper into my heart.  I called that CD my sleeping pill.  My distress lessened by the night. Going to sleep became easier as I transferred my focus.  God truly became my Rock, my Fortress, my Hiding Place.

During that same dark period a CD from Damaris Carbaugh became my tranquilizer, along with a collection of Praise hymns.  As I drove to work in the morning I sang along, often with tears streaming down my cheeks. Sometimes I would choose a topic, joy, love, heaven, and so on. I would think of every song on that topic I could, and I would sing each song as it came to mind.  By the time I got to work I would be ready to face the day.

So I shared with my friend. I suggested scripture and song. I sent her a text with Psalm 118:24, "This is the day the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it."  Her response: "I cannot hear that verse without singing it."  That's the whole point!

So the last couple of days I have been looking up verses for her, all from the Psalms.  I am only listing references because I want her to look them up.  I'm going to list these for you.  Perhaps they will be what you need, perhaps not.  But hopefully they will encourage you to search the Scripture and the hymnbook.

Here are the ones I have listed for my friend.  All are from the Psalms.

               5:11                             6:2                    9:1-2

            18:2                            18:4-6                27:14

            30:2                            30:56                  31:24    

            33:21-22                     34:1-3                 34:18

            38:9                            40:1-3                  42:8

            59:16-17                    106:1                    107:26-31

           113:1-3                        119:28                   119:50

           121                              139:17-18            145:17-18

           147:3                         150:6

 Let everything that hath breath praise the Lord.  Praise ye the Lord.

These are the verses I have chosen for my friend who is depressed and grieving.  They may not be the ones that you need, but I hope they will be just what my friend needs.

Scripture and Song.  The song I come back to when I am feeling low, is "Does Jesus Care?"

 
Does Jesus care when my heart is pained                                                         
Too deeply for mirth and song? 
When the burdens press
and the cares distress
And the way grows weary and long?                                                                           

Oh, yes He cares, I know He cares
His heart is touched with my grief.
When the days are weary,
The long nights dreary,
I know my Savior cares.

                --Faith Himes Lamb