Every Christian goes through dry periods. Every Christian goes through the valley of despair. Charles Spurgeon would suffer from severe bouts of depression, it was said of Spurgeon  by an artist who once tried to paint his portrait “I can’t paint you. Your face is different every day. You are never the same.” To be sure, the most popular preacher in the Victoria era was also one of the most burdened.

Spurgeon owned more than thirty books on mental health. He read about depression, wrote about depression, and suffered from depression. Spurgeon’s letters contain numerous references to his sinking spirits. He often called himself a “prisoner” and wept without knowing why.

“I pity a dog who has to suffer what I have.”

So, how do we deal with these dry times? These times when the clouds roll in and God seems so very far from us. As a counselor, I always tell others that their feelings can’t be trusted. Feelings are like the leaves blowing in the wind. Those who have no anchor are tossed to and fro by their feelings...feelings lie to us...feelings tell us that we have no worth...feelings tell us God does not care about us...feelings tell us that we will never know joy and peace again. 

What I know is that feelings lie. What I know is the anchor that grounds us is truth, the truth of God’s word is the anchor that will keep us moored to the dock. I’m always amazed at how much the Bible deals with our thinking process, like Philippians 4:8 “ Think on these things....” How about 2 Corinthians 10:5  Casting down human reasoning and all knowledge that is contrary to God’s thoughts.  This is how lying feeling are defeated, God’s truth must replace our old thinking patterns and when old thinking patterns are challenged and changed our feelings follow. 

Fellow Christian keep battling on. Keep fighting the fight. When those dark clouds of depression roll in flee to the one who is true and let his voice through the Scriptures be your anchor.