%PDF-1.7 1 0 obj << /Type /Catalog /Outlines 2 0 R /Pages 3 0 R >> endobj 2 0 obj << /Type /Outlines /Count 0 >> endobj 3 0 obj << /Type /Pages /Kids [6 0 R 19 0 R ] /Count 2 /Resources << /ProcSet 4 0 R /Font << /F1 8 0 R /F2 9 0 R /F3 10 0 R /F4 11 0 R /F5 12 0 R /F6 14 0 R >> /XObject << /I1 15 0 R /I2 16 0 R /I3 23 0 R /I4 24 0 R >> /ExtGState << /GS1 17 0 R /GS2 18 0 R /GS3 21 0 R /GS4 22 0 R >> >> /MediaBox [0.000 0.000 612.000 792.000] >> endobj 4 0 obj [/PDF /Text /ImageC ] endobj 5 0 obj << /Producer (dompdf 1.0.2 + CPDF) /CreationDate (D:20241127221059+00'00') /ModDate (D:20241127221059+00'00') >> endobj 6 0 obj << /Type /Page /MediaBox [0.000 0.000 612.000 792.000] /Parent 3 0 R /Contents 7 0 R >> endobj 7 0 obj << /Filter /FlateDecode /Length 1861 >> stream xXMW1rOI)ͺJ;R9@$(ZlW5 p=تR[+.CM6ft\}HeN6+=vmE.cO=ډFawՇUY)>Wʼj]VW"fywt }?bO6'^~xʳzqSpil<$WW (MxJ5,KW>>; V4Gx|)S0'[s cSa j%?FqdΦ#$_Ofd̑z)5`2^پ$x?F_:gp jӇYy/Y`_$Agq%9id$E hX* a4y*NqBʸ9{vOvzfTF[;vLאe:QomJ)վ/ CL:\y:HH:{|V۹\̫`|j<,BtPAQw4nn:u 6Q֩R4 =B8.0CUtVX`Ll.UqȻԋ` 70:%5nn2ei.:8yS,eh@68 d'" >Jty,tLC)*(k5$ީ䅗dD'1yբ&ru-t|@ON&v"ڧrNBsZCpQG} %OQ;X4^)BemH@UR]qU:i4@.`2U)SS5~ i{Bd]2I,g"> ƽ/nBGO\ J/USt]KjX mfwbbgfXjxA}jK' Ӡ+VFFޅ,A08<25#o/k)Q eWtJ-3+0:vZ..0!weR>x${-[-A3ul&n}bm`DzܶfC# utIB˔:)O)ohxaBnd7ߎ3pf}dY-lvbۥzlJXa 7t,Bb>Yi(x`y*(R"?*X#OFJ@!NNo) 3ҰkѱG"+8o p1i$sh~'Ta(VM<:/8˛p9B%6Ȕ0̵ a^&-lm]L#o C &9ޫ ;)"S S fy-]V\%OGUvק|3%Z;Ox' oydg`Loȡ<%=O)MޑXFK 7P&+)h ";~NQ^Jo!U [ /fKN !ydFʛHT͋-6 o,޹֞;^xxh[^ſ0-gv:.@UUAo!^ʛ}4f[f]ß6޾XӏBModFK@P<y@X endstream endobj 8 0 obj << /Type /Font /Subtype /Type1 /Name /F1 /BaseFont /Helvetica /Encoding /WinAnsiEncoding >> endobj 9 0 obj << /Type /Font /Subtype /Type1 /Name /F2 /BaseFont /Times-Bold /Encoding /WinAnsiEncoding >> endobj 10 0 obj << /Type /Font /Subtype /Type1 /Name /F3 /BaseFont /Times-Roman /Encoding /WinAnsiEncoding >> endobj 11 0 obj << /Type /Font /Subtype /Type1 /Name /F4 /BaseFont /Helvetica-Bold /Encoding /WinAnsiEncoding >> endobj 12 0 obj << /Type /Font /Subtype /Type1 /Name /F5 /BaseFont /Helvetica-Oblique /Encoding /WinAnsiEncoding >> endobj 13 0 obj [6 0 R /Fit] endobj 14 0 obj << /Type /Font /Subtype /Type1 /Name /F6 /BaseFont /Times-Roman /Encoding /WinAnsiEncoding >> endobj 15 0 obj << /Type /XObject /Subtype /Image /Width 550 /Height 140 /Filter /FlateDecode /DecodeParms << /Predictor 15 /Colors 1 /Columns 550 /BitsPerComponent 8>> /ColorSpace /DeviceGray /BitsPerComponent 8 /Length 5329>> stream xqDǯ뺒$ILfff&I335Lf2\3I2L&_3$3I$d+$\W=9y9lLss99P`0 `0 `0 `0 !U_:~u = F~sZŻدns⃪Qg¢G(F[-s͓^ DZ>d>3Dr#\OΉ, ZFwjux<;4Ƀxز#_v?nO<|{7c(b{Oū}w[N e~Hs䎷wwOn<1B.k+%U=eԘ -mCj)t:}c'ϓ*n"-ovkZ?R"V%wʶ7s]eX&eǕq` 1-2e JYHCFOUam 7:(Ԙt_@ހN t{B~ :V@}o#7!z^&zFL:ʤn X<- %"bNWqF c` M'4?cH-V`ǵAF>=#Ěm75dB I&7E5<>-͏їFǿl3M6x]Y&)2 FoΌ N.<t i4wL\^=_|Fo؏IȄ ik$ɄL?{?|tmCޮ=~T&iTevϷ'奔s?EꋄLPY͹箵?@L:Aˤ3y_:9AtA*0qVe- e6g)%a}.qKcI V/xʤzM|\ HSql0;*%+Mذ-闛obebu2iU&lLbtIcxb5^B#8 ޮaʻ _ w>j+L:$"&O;bZ K1 jmU玫ݢ=S/J<WO2'_yUPvp=`"aL5 Nl7"rlQT޼==-I[Se* F'(\`󴯉'{:נnVZ TG6*r$Tyx^LJū.C<3` %ANrxUo"˄ 0&$tO F&bIcW3GG͈ y!{m,LkCI d,(2"@ dR%F1thUL8Rݒ^+v9^?sʯYעDl~Qd" N2sc|ov}=F,3K#vxIvG^,[OM&wI[#,Jޙ\ض;L^fv[LbyYvM#/EI#/Zס$(ڼ ," &LK/IF i-Zx彰픢]MKeR n(PhV'LҸ\f$w/ e]"mɷWO߻˱ KerSPe (ӼGMȈ}X?ʍto7ZKl+81_Y&ǡd uʤ1Vw!sQ"/$zNkw(t)2BWQW"˄OXLp:e‡# וzn2F}qlc5ؾ:WH xLz LP:d# Q>(MRېd2Qt$o~R$YR5,-nޜLr_βehd" 2k1lvO X= eC p+[R=jU!֖}_DޟY2 (*wkZQ>Fl̲soR#^u3hhyTԲt.LtD8sk4z4Rbl@zp4hy0Tn\=.fnő Y/:TC9<@fSI$:QR/bq7DfR/ֻn)Vqd"䳽˄GL;ϝRG顼n&%Sv eFv,L"t}I&N> D73]$e)( ;]XhL`kSzJlcC$<)깍h}dr,1ܝRM뭍eMa $?e3f8΍҈&P(x+JU5{I 3 M- ;7|#G9 !\œ&=xp2,L{-`?OW":4uܚEadv ~9q.VdV%UT@73$@W¯B!ݒaVLH:!opr;gAɀiήpfߙR E/IDO*Luf0}{7mfyDxT.g)w5RvHx#Z]&M$ gZUTt+lZqZ_;a&JaG,-JLJDFIcV|:I3nB&;N0Lna=Y_Gl,p5,,kc EKgd;2vt7selT9˸sX޲.6r<1!| L0lTMS1?Xsf cq )KSgBB&׭x. v c@^Yk΀v],E[ɾ QhYyXXC2)g/J@su1ScL, ?C[{V2i͛!סӠ&> 6lu>4Ƕʤ|=12鱧l{^:a/Y%~].26G: p^CZ V&Vedҟ?RrX7d#I]ՕuL1 ?_ /12IEh ̴b<ӯ^e _ϝ䰻^]vy> /ColorSpace /DeviceRGB /BitsPerComponent 8 /Length 873>> stream x1j08-K/)],) &gi+:U̲\"9H!@"9H!@"9H!@eY.Z[p_E{QHKV[/`j%ʒcP,SX4W{7urd5ɱPr:-ֆʇX$$zfZpClbw7z{[]qGlwlGlZiM,ߺ7x}w` L9=3zpWL9 j)ۓB$ DrB$ DrB$ DrB$ DrB$ DrB$ DrB$ DrB$e]k` B$ DrB$ DrB$ DrB$/؋ endstream endobj 17 0 obj << /Type /ExtGState /BM /Normal /CA 0.3 >> endobj 18 0 obj << /Type /ExtGState /BM /Normal /ca 0.3 >> endobj 19 0 obj << /Type /Page /MediaBox [0.000 0.000 612.000 792.000] /Parent 3 0 R /Contents 20 0 R >> endobj 20 0 obj << /Filter /FlateDecode /Length 1570 >> stream xWMo6W0ph}6= Ҥ[hR4=w1%$ea{H %ov &0lYy3"%X~溜wlZ5IӿvweY V5n۔Oߞ3e~/Y+m/c&n"{P7!Sus~SgхyA0dS9/P] t\I5#JT)|T=|q2|fBd3wu/cUr+E(#j6cH&'s(!{d[F"rʻ ʬiJKA GKPDBWiv+my@94E85}J15썹p2?0"y?WW~'vOKn,낎9D|̏jWXttxLCdF#lceY>W11Uv/f endstream endobj 21 0 obj << /Type /ExtGState /BM /Normal /CA 1 >> endobj 22 0 obj << /Type /ExtGState /BM /Normal /ca 1 >> endobj 23 0 obj << /Type /XObject /Subtype /Image /Width 550 /Height 140 /Filter /FlateDecode /DecodeParms << /Predictor 15 /Colors 1 /Columns 550 /BitsPerComponent 8>> /ColorSpace /DeviceGray /BitsPerComponent 8 /Length 5329>> stream xqDǯ뺒$ILfff&I335Lf2\3I2L&_3$3I$d+$\W=9y9lLss99P`0 `0 `0 `0 !U_:~u = F~sZŻدns⃪Qg¢G(F[-s͓^ DZ>d>3Dr#\OΉ, ZFwjux<;4Ƀxز#_v?nO<|{7c(b{Oū}w[N e~Hs䎷wwOn<1B.k+%U=eԘ -mCj)t:}c'ϓ*n"-ovkZ?R"V%wʶ7s]eX&eǕq` 1-2e JYHCFOUam 7:(Ԙt_@ހN t{B~ :V@}o#7!z^&zFL:ʤn X<- %"bNWqF c` M'4?cH-V`ǵAF>=#Ěm75dB I&7E5<>-͏їFǿl3M6x]Y&)2 FoΌ N.<t i4wL\^=_|Fo؏IȄ ik$ɄL?{?|tmCޮ=~T&iTevϷ'奔s?EꋄLPY͹箵?@L:Aˤ3y_:9AtA*0qVe- e6g)%a}.qKcI V/xʤzM|\ HSql0;*%+Mذ-闛obebu2iU&lLbtIcxb5^B#8 ޮaʻ _ w>j+L:$"&O;bZ K1 jmU玫ݢ=S/J<WO2'_yUPvp=`"aL5 Nl7"rlQT޼==-I[Se* F'(\`󴯉'{:נnVZ TG6*r$Tyx^LJū.C<3` %ANrxUo"˄ 0&$tO F&bIcW3GG͈ y!{m,LkCI d,(2"@ dR%F1thUL8Rݒ^+v9^?sʯYעDl~Qd" N2sc|ov}=F,3K#vxIvG^,[OM&wI[#,Jޙ\ض;L^fv[LbyYvM#/EI#/Zס$(ڼ ," &LK/IF i-Zx彰픢]MKeR n(PhV'LҸ\f$w/ e]"mɷWO߻˱ KerSPe (ӼGMȈ}X?ʍto7ZKl+81_Y&ǡd uʤ1Vw!sQ"/$zNkw(t)2BWQW"˄OXLp:e‡# וzn2F}qlc5ؾ:WH xLz LP:d# Q>(MRېd2Qt$o~R$YR5,-nޜLr_βehd" 2k1lvO X= eC p+[R=jU!֖}_DޟY2 (*wkZQ>Fl̲soR#^u3hhyTԲt.LtD8sk4z4Rbl@zp4hy0Tn\=.fnő Y/:TC9<@fSI$:QR/bq7DfR/ֻn)Vqd"䳽˄GL;ϝRG顼n&%Sv eFv,L"t}I&N> D73]$e)( ;]XhL`kSzJlcC$<)깍h}dr,1ܝRM뭍eMa $?e3f8΍҈&P(x+JU5{I 3 M- ;7|#G9 !\œ&=xp2,L{-`?OW":4uܚEadv ~9q.VdV%UT@73$@W¯B!ݒaVLH:!opr;gAɀiήpfߙR E/IDO*Luf0}{7mfyDxT.g)w5RvHx#Z]&M$ gZUTt+lZqZ_;a&JaG,-JLJDFIcV|:I3nB&;N0Lna=Y_Gl,p5,,kc EKgd;2vt7selT9˸sX޲.6r<1!| L0lTMS1?Xsf cq )KSgBB&׭x. v c@^Yk΀v],E[ɾ QhYyXXC2)g/J@su1ScL, ?C[{V2i͛!סӠ&> 6lu>4Ƕʤ|=12鱧l{^:a/Y%~].26G: p^CZ V&Vedҟ?RrX7d#I]ՕuL1 ?_ /12IEh ̴b<ӯ^e _ϝ䰻^]vy> /ColorSpace /DeviceRGB /BitsPerComponent 8 /Length 873>> stream x1j08-K/)],) &gi+:U̲\"9H!@"9H!@"9H!@eY.Z[p_E{QHKV[/`j%ʒcP,SX4W{7urd5ɱPr:-ֆʇX$$zfZpClbw7z{[]qGlwlGlZiM,ߺ7x}w` L9=3zpWL9 j)ۓB$ DrB$ DrB$ DrB$ DrB$ DrB$ DrB$ DrB$e]k` B$ DrB$ DrB$ DrB$/؋ endstream endobj xref 0 25 0000000000 65535 f 0000000009 00000 n 0000000074 00000 n 0000000120 00000 n 0000000461 00000 n 0000000498 00000 n 0000000647 00000 n 0000000750 00000 n 0000002684 00000 n 0000002791 00000 n 0000002899 00000 n 0000003009 00000 n 0000003122 00000 n 0000003238 00000 n 0000003267 00000 n 0000003377 00000 n 0000008952 00000 n 0000010083 00000 n 0000010142 00000 n 0000010201 00000 n 0000010306 00000 n 0000011950 00000 n 0000012007 00000 n 0000012064 00000 n 0000017639 00000 n trailer << /Size 25 /Root 1 0 R /Info 5 0 R /ID[] >> startxref 18770 %%EOF This poor man cried... | Caring Magazine

Vol. #28

Grace Uncovered

Read Issue

Latest Impact StoriesView All

Popular Topics

PopularView All

This poor man cried…

June 26, 2009
3 minute read
Total
0
Shares
0
0
0
Listen to this article

The Spice Box

by Sharon Robertson, Lt. Colonel –

Much as we hate to admit it, despair and depression strike all of us, Christian and non-Christian alike. A haunting feeling of aloneness; emptiness; that “down” feeling that we can’t quite identify; a vague sense of dread; a shadow that seems to somehow isolate or insulate us from the comfort of family and friends—even from God himself; an enervating numbness that robs us of the will to do anything. It becomes a heavy cloud that leaves us feeling like an inert mass, unproductive, helpless. The psalmist David was a frequent victim of such feelings and with good reason.

David was a man who seemed to have very little going for him. He was the youngest son in a large family. His family didn’t view him as having any particular potential. His greatest strength was not physical prowess or even his wisdom—he made some bad choices now and again. What set him apart was his willingness to put himself at risk for the sake of his God. God loved him. God chose him. God had plans for him. God used him. God made him a king.

One might think that being the anointed one, chosen by God, would be enough to make David’s life one of unalloyed joy and success. It wasn’t. He had good times and bad times, times when he was celebrated and times when he was persecuted and condemned.

David’s writings reflect personal spiritual battles that took place in times of fulfillment, as well as in times of deep despair. For a man known for his faithfulness, David found himself indulging in ungodly behavior far too often and suffering the consequences—the sense of guilt and separation from God—that brought him to his knees.

Guilt for wrongdoing was not the only reason David experienced depression and a sense of defeat. There were times in his life when circumstances seemed to overwhelm him, when he felt like God had deserted him, left him lost and defenseless.

David’s victorious walk with God was not due to his own invincible spiritual life. He was often down and discouraged for one reason or another, sometimes due to his own failures, sometimes due to the failures of loved ones, sometimes due to other circumstances totally beyond his own sphere of influence. Victory over depression came from one source only: his dependence on God to lead him out of the darkness into the light of his almighty presence. For him, salvation from his own mind-trap came from renewed awareness that no matter what happens, God is God, and The Lord redeems his servants; no one will be condemned who takes refuge in him (Psalms 34:22), and Your love, O Lord, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies, your righteousness is like the mighty mountains, your justice like the great deep…How priceless is your unfailing love! Both high and low among men find refuge in the shadow of your wings (Psalms 36:6-7).

It would be simplistic to think that normally clinical depression can be resolved without professional help (I say “normally” because I am not about to say that any good thing is impossible with God). At the same time, I can personally attest that David’s approach to rising above his circumstances through dependence upon the almighty God can work miracles in those moments—hours? days?—when the deep blue clouds of depression seem to settle over our spirits.

How? In practical terms, what difference can it possibly make simply to focus on God when the world starts falling apart around me? A lot!

Focusing on God helps me to see beyond my own situation, to see life from his perspective.

Focusing on God—singing his praises even when I don’t feel like singing—raises my spirits and reminds me of his faithfulness.

Focusing on God—who he is and what he can accomplish through those committed to him—can open my eyes to possibilities for the future.

Focusing on God can help me to slough off the oppressive weight of despair and think more clearly and positively.

Don’t get me wrong. I’m no psychologist. I do not claim psychological insight. I am simply a child of God who has found comfort, strength and empowerment through rejoicing in him. Like David, this poor man cried, and the Lord heard, and delivered him out of all his troubles. I am so grateful that I want this for you as well.

After all, God loves you. God has chosen you. God has plans for you.

Download this page as a PDF

You May Also Like