Charles Spurgeon Comfort for the Desponding

“Oh that I were as in months past.” Job 29:2

FOR the most part the gracious Shepherd leads his people beside the still waters, and makes them to lie down in green pastures; but at times they wander through a wilderness, where there is no water, and they find no city to dwell in. Hungry and thirsty, their soul fainteth within them, and they cry unto the Lord in their trouble. Though many of his people live in almost constant joy, and find that religion’s ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace, yet there are many who pass through fire and through water:

Twelve Steps for Christian Living Part 1

Romans 7:18 (NLT) I know I am rotten through and through, so far as my old sinful nature is concerned. No matter which way I turn, I can't make myself do right. I want to, but I can't.

 I want you to take a journey with me along a path of recovery. I am going to "borrow" liberally from the original Twelve Steps program that was designed in the 1930s by Bill Wilson for recovering alcoholics. I have tweaked the steps to help us become more Christ-like. I am not an expert on these steps, but the more I learn about them, the more I find they can apply to all of us, as a tool for helping us understand ourselves and manage our lives through God's help. The Twelve Steps is a spiritual program, and I pray that through this series, we can develop a closer relationship to our God Who is greater than us and is still in control. Come now; let's go on this journey and see where God takes us.

Words of encouragement from the Bible

1 Corinthians Ch. 1 v. 8-9 “He will keep you strong until the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord is faithful.”

Colossians Ch. 1 v. 9-14.“For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. …… For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”

When a Preacher is Downcast by Charles Spurgeon

"Moreover the Philistines had yet war again with Israel; and David went down, and his servants with him, and fought against the Philistines: and David waxed faint" II Sam. 21:15.

"For, when we were come into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, but we were troubled on every side; without were fightings, within were fears. Nevertheless God, that comforteth those that are cast down, comforted us by the coming of Titus" II Cor. 7:5,6.

Beating Depression By Paul Vincent

Psalms 42 and 43 give a good description of the clinical features of depression and provide assurance that depression is both part of normal human experience and understood by God. The psalmist describes the depressed person's mood changes, loss of appetite, grief and mourning, difficulty in planning and paranoia. The immediate cause is not clear - but may have been due to circumstances, as a result of physical symptoms or spiritual. Depressed people often find prayer difficult so need friends who will pray for them, encourage them to put their hope in God and remind them that better times will come.

GETHSEMANE—Leaves of Healing from the Garden of Grief - Part 4

by Newman Hall, 1891

This Book is the fulfillment of a long-cherished purpose. It expresses the thoughts and prayers of many years, and is published with devout desire to minister consolation to some of the afflicted children of God.

31. PAUL IN THE GARDEN OF GRIEF

"My grace is sufficient for you." 2 Cor. 12:9

Paul was a hero—defying difficulties, danger, death. He gloried in tribulation, yet he deeply felt it. He knew the darkest shadow of the garden of grief. In writing to the Corinthians he spoke as having been "pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life."

GETHSEMANE—Leaves of Healing from the Garden of Grief - Part 3

by Newman Hall, 1891

This Book is the fulfillment of a long-cherished purpose. It expresses the thoughts and prayers of many years, and is published with devout desire to minister consolation to some of the afflicted children of God.

21. THE WEEPING ONE OF GETHSEMANE TO WEEPING WOMANHOOD

Jesus said to her, "Mary!" She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, "Rabboni!" (which means Teacher). John 20:16

GETHSEMANE—Leaves of Healing from the Garden of Grief - Part 2

by Newman Hall, 1891

This Book is the fulfillment of a long-cherished purpose. It expresses the thoughts and prayers of many years, and is published with devout desire to minister consolation to some of the afflicted children of God.

11. SLUMBER IN GETHSEMANE

Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. "What, could you not watch with Me one hour? The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak."—Matthew 26:40, 41