The Bible has its own divine terminology for spiritual depression. It speaks of being weighed down, discouraged, cast down, losing heart, rottenness in the bones, and other Hebrew expressions of spiritual and psychological weakness. These refer to states of the heart, the body and mind, one’s disposition and outlook on life, and our experience of life day by day. Advances in the scientific discipline of human psychology, psychiatry, and forms of prescribed therapy should always be assessed in light of the teaching of the Bible. While there are some effective therapies, it is still critical for God’s people to understand that no one knows better than God how the heart and mind of man work. I believe that God’s word and prayer should always be consulted first. After all, He is the Great Physician and Healer (Ps. 103:3). Christ healed people of bodily sickness and psychological maladies of depression and anxiety. And the book of Proverbs remains man’s most helpful resource for dealing with the rise and reign of spiritual depression in our lives.
Anxiety is a struggle for many and we probably all face it from time to time. This passage addresses that anxious care which causes us to be uneasy or fearful about an imminent event or an uncertain outcome. Solomon says that this kind of anxiety in the heart of man places a heavy burden on him. Prov. 14:10 says “The heart knows its own bitterness.” Prov. 17:22 says “A broken spirit dries up the bones.” Prov. 18:14 says “…..as for a broken spirit who can bear it?” Psalm 42:5, 11 asks “Why are you cast down (in despair) O my soul, and why have you become disturbed within me?”
Prov. 12:25 is a great promise for the anxious. It tells us what we know so well in our experience: that anxiety in our hearts weighs us down. It is a weight too great to bear. We would rather do a hard day’s work, sweat in the hot sun, or walk long miles, than bear under the load of a crippling anxiety. We certainly don’t need to be convinced of what the first part of this verse is saying.
It’s the second part that requires some convincing: “But a good word makes it glad.” Of course, people who seek help for depression usually go to therapy sessions where they talk with others who have the same struggles. Sometimes just sharing our struggles with fellow-strugglers is helpful. But is it lasting, and does this alone bring healing? Prov. 12:25 is talking about a good word from outside – like good news from a foreign land! We want to enjoy the blessing described in Prov. 15:15 which says “All the days of the afflicted are bad, but a cheerful heart has a continual feast!” Imagine this advertisement: A Continual Feast for the Depressed & Anxious! But that is God’s promise. Prov. 13:12 is yet another great promise: “Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but desire fulfilled is a tree of life.” Let’s face it. God has so many great promises for those who struggle with the manifestations of depression. There is help and hope from Him. Psalm 40:17 says “Since I am afflicted and needy, let the Lord be mindful of me. You are my help and my deliverer; do not delay, O my God.”
Here’s the point of our proverb. “A good word makes it glad!” What good word is he talking about? First, a good word that makes the heart of the depressed glad has to be a word from God, as this verse is, and as the healing book of Proverbs is. So is the Gospel of Christ good news to the afflicted. Read Isa. 61:1 and see it fulfilled in Jesus in Luke 4:18. Sometimes people just want medicine to heal their souls, while the lasting effective medicine is Christ in the Gospel! Go to God for a good word before going to man. Second, it has to be a good word from a concerned friend or loved one. This is the whole point in context of Prov. 12:25. There is a thread that runs throughout Proverbs which is designed to establish in us the necessity to use our tongues for healing, not hurting purposes. We must speak good words and refrain from careless, selfish, empty, and harmful words that hinder rather than help. “A soothing tongue is a tree of life” (15:4). “How delightful is a timely word” (15:23). “Good news puts fat on the bones” (15:30, see 25:25). “Pleasant words are a honeycomb” (16:24). “He who speaks right is loved” (16:13). “A good word makes it glad!” (12:25). “Death and life are in the power of the tongue” (18:21). Is there a cure for anxiety and spiritual depression? That’s like asking: Is there a God? Of course there is a cure. If there is a God there is a cure. And the God we know in Christ has told us to come to Him in Christ for the cure (Phil. 4:6, 1 Pet. 5:7). So let’s make the heart of the anxious glad by our good, timely, healing, helpful, words. Let’s be like the Lord Jesus and do good to those who are cast down with cares. Let’s be the ones who bring that good word which makes glad.
Pastor John
This article has been reposted with permission from http://cbclumberton.com/2013/03/14/anxiety-and-spiritual-depression-proverbs-1225.