Orland Evangelical Free Church | Jane's Story

Depression is real. Tough life issues can run you down.

I had the privilege of interviewing a woman (I'll call her Jane) who shared with me how God worked in her life through SoulCare. Some things she said reminded me of Asaph's struggles in Psalm 77.

I was in a hole I could not get myself out of.

"I think of God, and I moan; I meditate, and my spirit faints." Psalm 77:3.

I was counseled to get in touch with my feelings.

"I commune with my heart in the night; I meditate and search my spirit" vs. 6.

The more I got in touch with my feelings about these things, the more depressed I became.

"Will the Lord spurn for ever, and never again be favorable? Has his steadfast love forever ceased?" vs. 7, 8a.

The more I thought about myself, the more upset I became.

"Has God forgotten to be gracious? Has he in anger shut up his compassion?" vs. 9.

Jane's struggles are not uncommon. We all face situations that push us to the edge of our endurance. The question is, who do we turn to?

Jane was counseled by Christian psychologists to get in touch with her feelings.

"Because the counsel was coming from a Christian source, I thought it must be Biblical, but the self-focused philosophy really brought me down."

Disillusioned, Jane turned to Cindy Yarbrough of SoulCare.

"The biggest part of the decision was I felt like the problem was getting worse, clearly, everyday. I didn't know Cindy was going to be any different, but I knew I needed a second opinion. After meeting with Cindy, I realized this is biblical counseling.

"The best thing Cindy did was to pull me out of a self-focused philosophy to a God-focused one. I can focus on the Lord; I don't have to focus on my feelings. After just a few weeks, I felt like a new person. I could let things go and focus on the Lord."

As with Asaph, life had beaten Jane down. She was downcast, longing to be pulled out of the mire. And just like Asaph, Jane was faced with a choice-on whom will I focus? Myself or God?

"I will call to mind the deeds of the Lord; yea, I will remember thy wonders of old. I will meditate on all thy work, and muse on thy mighty deeds.

"Thy way, O God, is holy. What god is great like our God? Thou art the God who workest wonders, who hast manifested thy might among the peoples.

"Thou didst with thy arm redeem thy people, the sons of Jacob and Joseph.

"Selah." Vs. 11-15