March 2013, A Letter from June on ‘Depression’

March 2013, A Letter from June on ‘Depression’

I invite you to try a simple experiment—one that makes a memorable impression when related to the human heart: First, place a heavy iron on a foam pillow. Leave it there for a few seconds. Then remove the iron and watch what happens.

When you place the iron on the pillow, it becomes pressed down—“depressed.” Then, when you remove the iron, the pillow springs back to its original shape.

But … what if you wait six months to remove the iron? (No need to try this part—I’ll tell you!) The pillow doesn’t return to its original shape, but remains flat and depressed. Pillows are not made to hold their shape when weighed down with heavy pressure for long periods of time. The same is true of the human heart—your heart.

We all encounter different degrees of pressure from stressful situations in life (situational depression), yet, God designed our hearts to rebound once this pressure is removed. However, hearts that suffer under the unrelenting weight of heavy pressure for long periods can enter into a “state of depression.”

Major depression is a “mood disorder” involving five or more of the following typical symptoms nearly every day for at least two weeks:¹

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• Pervasive depressed moods
• Diminished pleasure in usual activities
• Slower or more agitated movements
• Diminished ability to think clearly, evaluate, or concentrate
• Fatigue or loss of energy

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• Too little or too much sleep
• Worthless feelings/excessive guilt
• Significant change in appetite or weight
• Suicidal thoughts/attempts

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Some of the Bible’s most acclaimed characters suffered from severe emotional pressure and distress: King David, the prophet Elijah, the apostle Paul, even Israel’s first king. In fact, biblical descriptions of King Saul indicate he even may have been plagued by a serious malady known as bipolar disorder, sometimes also called manic depression. People with bipolar disorder literally swing from one end of the emotional “pole” (deep depression) to the other extreme (heightened “mania”).

Those who are manic display unfounded, euphoric highs coupled with poor judgment. Manic episodes are characterized by one or more of the following symptoms—symptoms that are not typical of the person and that last for at least one week:²

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• Illogical thinking
• Poor judgment
• Excessive pleasure, risking negative consequences
• Inflated ego
• Easily distracted

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• Increased obsession on a goal
• Racing thoughts
• Excessive talk
• Decreased need for sleep
• Unfounded euphoric mood

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King Saul’s extreme emotional and behavioral swings are similar to many symptoms of those with a bipolar disorder. Listed below are some examples:³

[one_half]Characteristics of Mania [/one_half]

[one_half_last]King Saul’s Manic Behavior[/one_half_last]

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Illogical thinking

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He disobeyed God because of impatience.

[/one_half_last]King Saul was distraught that the prophet Samuel had not yet arrived to offer the designated burnt sacrifice prior to battle, so he foolishly offered the sacrifice himself—although it was in direct disobedience to the command of God (1 Samuel 13:12).

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Poor judgment

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He denied his army nourishment.

[/one_half_last]Saul’s army became weak because he had bound his troops to “… an oath, saying, ‘Cursed be anyone who eats food before evening comes, before I have avenged myself on my enemies!’ So none of the troops tasted food” (1 Samuel 14:24).

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Excessive pleasures, negative consequences

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He kept excessive battle spoils.

[/one_half_last]God told Saul to completely destroy both the enemy and their possessions; however, Saul kept some of the forbidden battle spoils for himself. “… the best of the sheep and cattle, the fat calves and lambs—everything that was good. These they were unwilling to destroy completely …. Then the word of the Lord came to Samuel: ‘I regret that I have made Saul king, because he has turned away from me and has not carried out my instructions’” (1 Samuel 15:9-11).

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Inflated ego

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He erected a monument to himself.

[/one_half_last]Although he went early to meet with Saul, Samuel was told, “‘Saul has gone to Carmel. There he has set up a monument in his own honor …’” (1 Samuel 15:12), clearly an act of sanctimony.

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Easily distracted

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He became distracted by songs of Israeli women.

[/one_half_last]When his men were returning from battle, rather than focusing on the victory, Saul was easily distracted by what the women were singing. Although the refrain was meant to honor the troops, “Saul was very angry; this refrain displeased him greatly. ‘They have credited David with tens of thousands,’ he thought, ‘but me with only thousands. What more can he get but the kingdom?’” (1 Samuel 18:8).

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Increased obsession on a goal

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He became obsessed with the goal to kill David.

[/one_half_last]When David first began serving the king, “… Saul liked him [David] very much ….” However, “When Saul realized that the Lord was with David and that his daughter Michal loved David, Saul … remained his enemy the rest of his days.” In spite of Jonathan’s appeal to his father, “Saul sent men to David’s house … to kill him ….” Saul actually made many more attempts to take David’s life (1 Samuel 16:21; 18:28-29; 19:4, 6, 11).

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Racing thoughts

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He tried to kill his own son, whom he loved.

[/one_half_last] To determine whether his father was planning to kill David, Jonathan excused David from the king’s presence, which made Saul furious. “Saul’s anger flared up at Jonathan and he said to him, ‘You son of a perverse and rebellious woman! Don’t I know that you have sided with the son of Jesse [David] to your own shame and to the shame of the mother who bore you? As long as the son of Jesse lives on this earth, neither you nor your kingdom will be established. Now send someone to bring him to me, for he must die!’” Jonathan asked, “‘Why should he be put to death? What has he done?’ … But Saul hurled his spear at him [Jonathan, the son he loved] to kill him” (1 Samuel 20:30-33).

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Unfounded, euphoric mood

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He presumed he had the Lord’s favor.

[/one_half_last] In the midst of Saul’s elevated mood, he said, “God has delivered him [David] into my hands ….” Therefore, Saul confidently called up all his forces to conquer and destroy David and his men. However, Saul’s presumption was dead wrong (1 Samuel 23:7-13).

[one_half]Characteristics of Depression⁴[/one_half]

[one_half_last]King Saul’s Depressed Behaviors[/one_half_last]

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Discouragement, dismay, hopelessness

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He lost hope in the face of fear.

[/one_half_last] Although God had delivered Saul in many battles, when his army was challenged by Goliath, the Philistine giant, “… Saul and all the Israelites were dismayed and terrified.” Clearly, God had anointed Saul as king, yet he continued to battle debilitating terror and hopelessness. “When Saul saw the Philistine army, he was afraid; terror filled his heart” (1 Samuel 17:11; 28:5).

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Diminished pleasure in usual activities

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He no longer enjoyed David’s lyre or harp.

[/one_half_last] Often David soothed Saul’s troubled spirit by playing the harp: “Then relief would come to Saul; he would feel better ….” Later, however, “While David was playing the lyre, Saul tried to pin him to the wall with his spear, but David eluded him as Saul drove the spear into the wall” (1 Samuel 16:23; 19:9-10).

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More agitated movements

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He flew into angry outbursts.

[/one_half_last] With no provocation whatsoever and with a spear in his hand, Saul “… hurled it, saying to himself, ‘I’ll pin David to the wall.’ But David eluded him twice” (1 Samuel 18:10-11).

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Diminished ability to think clearly

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He accused his men of treason.

[/one_half_last] In his attempt to find and kill David, Saul made unjust accusations toward his son and innocent countrymen. “Will the son of Jesse [David] give all of you fields and vineyards? Will he make all of you commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds? Is that why you have all conspired against me? No one tells me when my son makes a covenant with the son of Jesse. None of you is concerned about me or tells me that my son has incited my servant to lie in wait for me, as he does today” (1 Samuel 22:7-8).

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Diminished ability to evaluate

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He put his confronter to death.

[/one_half_last] When Saul falsely accused a priest who had innocently helped David, that priest sought to confront Saul with reason. “Who of all your servants is as loyal as David, the king’s son-in-law, captain of your bodyguard and highly respected in your household?” But in denial, Saul said to the priest, “You will surely die … you and your whole family” (1 Samuel 22:14, 16).

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Sad, discouraged, pessimistic

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He dreaded his fate and feared David.

[/one_half_last] Saul learned that David had spared his life. With periodic, overwhelming sadness, Saul expressed his dread of the future, saying, “I know that you will surely be king and that the kingdom of Israel will be established in your hands. Now swear to me by the Lord that you will not kill off my descendants or wipe out my name from my father’s family” (1 Samuel 24:20-21).

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Significant change in appetite

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He refused to eat.

[/one_half_last] Saul was in such a depressed state that “He refused and said, ‘I will not eat’” (1 Samuel 28:23).

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Suicidal thoughts or attempts

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He took his own life.

[/one_half_last] Upon receiving a critical wound in battle and being unable to persuade his armor-bearer to kill him,
“… Saul took his own sword and fell on it” (1 Samuel 31:4).

Obviously, depression and its devastating effects are nothing new. And today, this lingering malady plagues more than 121 million people worldwide—damaging their normal ability to work and form relationships … and destroying their quality of life. Each year, 850,000 sufferers choose to end their isolation and despair by taking their own lives.⁵ Yet I know from experience that even a small amount of hope can make all the difference to a hurting heart.

For more than 25 years, Hope For The Heart has been privileged to serve on the frontlines in the battle against depression. We offer an emergency helpline—staffed by compassionate, trained biblical counselors—that is answered 18 hours a day, Monday through Friday. However, I believe we are called to extend the hours of our Care Center to 24 hours a day, 5 days a week.

Why are these expanded hours so critical? It’s because the dark hours between 3:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m. are often especially difficult for those battling depression. Life can seem the darkest and most hopeless, literally right before the dawn. Most of the calls received by crisis hotlines during these hours are urgent and are placed by someone contemplating suicide.

To ensure a trained, Hope biblical counselor is standing by, ready to receive these critical calls, we still need to raise approximately $85,000. This will enable us to add the personnel and equipment needed for a third work shift. I sincerely ask you to pray … asking the Lord if He is leading you to give to this lifesaving part of our ministry. Doing so will not only help change minds and heal hearts, it will literally save lives! By extending the Care Center hours, callers will have the opportunity to speak directly with a Hope Care Representative at their point of crisis, without having to wait until morning—which could be too late. (I’m not trying to be dramatic—I’m simply being realistic.)

Please be aware, I am not writing to you about depression as a spectator…. I am writing as one who has been there. [lightbox href=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5s7m9OpRC2w” title=”June Hunt’s Personal Testimony on Depression”]Recently, I spoke very candidly, on camera, about my journey at age 16 through the dark valley of depression and how I found my way out.[/lightbox]

This month, we celebrate the 27th anniversary of Hope For The Heart. As we do, I hope you know that I know this ministry could not reach daily around the world—in 28 languages in more than 60 countries on six continents—were it not for y-o-u. And so, from the bottom of my heart, thank you for your partnership … your prayers … your encouragement … and your gifts. I plan to continue helping people find God’s Truth for Today’s Problems until the Lord calls me home. I know of no greater joy and privilege!

Yours in the Lord’s hope,

June Hunt

P.S. On March 22 and 23, I’m teaching the Biblical Counseling Institute (BCI) on Depression: Walking from Darkness into the Dawn. CEUs are now available, at an affordable price, for Licensed Professional Counselors through these events, as well as for Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI) members. Plan now to attend our March BCI and all our 2013 conferences. You can find the 2013 BCI schedule at: www.HopeForTheHeart.org/bci.

For important overview information to help you combat depression—now!—here’s a link to our free download on depression.

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I also invite you to listen as I share part of my personal story with you.

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[lightbox href=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5s7m9OpRC2w” title=”June Hunt’s Personal Testimony on Depression”]

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If you’re on Facebook, I invite you to connect with me at www.Facebook.com/June.Hunt.Hope. And if you’re not, take it from me: You’re never too old to start! See you there!

1. For these symptoms see American Psychiatric Association, Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th ed., text revision (Washington, D.C.: American Psychiatric Association, 2000), 356. Portions of this letter are adapted from June Hunt, Depression: Walking from Darkness into the Dawn, Biblical Counseling Keys Library (Dallas: Hope for the Heart, 2008), 11-13.

2. For this section see DSM-IV TR, 362.

3. For characteristics of mania see DSM-IV TR, 362.

4. For characteristics of depression see DSM-IV TR, 356.

5. BioMed Central, “Global Depression Statistics” Science Daily, July 26, 2011, http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/07/110725202240.htm.

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

For your convenience, you can donate to this ministry via our website, www.HopeForTheHeart.org.