Romans 8:22 tells us that "all creation keeps on groaning together and being in pain together until now." Those words were true 19 centuries ago when they were written, but today more people than ever are depressed. Here in the U.S., 7% of the entire population suffer from some type of recurring depression.

Even the rest of us get depressed from time to time, even though it isn't nearly as serious as that experienced by the other 7 percent. Many of those 7 percent experience what we would call "clinical depression", which often requires more than just encouragement. It often takes special medication or other medical attention to treat that.

But friends, the purpose of our discussion tonight is not to discuss medical treatments. The purpose of our discussion is to offer encouragement to ALL of those who may be suffering from whatever form of depression.

When offering encouragement, we should be careful about what we say. The Reasoning book gives some guidelines on this matter on pages 117 to 121. It defines "encouragment" as "something that gives courage or imparts hope. Giving it may require rendering personal help or expressing appreciation. Often it involves assisting someone to see how to cope with a difficult situation or discussing reasons for confidence in a better future. At times much good is done by simply displaying a sympathetic attitude."

The book then goes on to relate some of the things that can cause one to be depressed, like sickness, the death of a loved one, persecution from serving God, suffering from injustice, economic problems, or even one's own shortcomings. But whatever the reason, we can find the best encouragement from God's own Word.

In fact, the Bible itself comments on its value for encouragement at 2 Corinthians 1:3, 4. There, we read:

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of tender mercies and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those in any sort of tribulation through the comfort with which we ourselves are being comforted by God."

So Jehovah not only gives us comfort through the pages of the Bible, but we're expected to pass that comfort on to others who may need it.

One Bible account that can give us comfort is that of Job. Let's open our Bibles there. Job chapter 1. Notice what Job 1, verses 1 to 3 say. Without reading the whole account there, we can see in verse 1 that Job was a good man, 'blameless and upright'. Verse 2 says that he had a large family, and verse 3 tells us that he was well-to-do; he was even considered the "greatest of all the Orientals."

So Job had everything. He had money, he had a family, most of all, he had Jehovah. But we know what happened to Job. He became a target of Satan's attention. He was persecuted directly by Satan, and he lost his family, he lost his property, he lost his wealth, he lost his health, he lost everything. Or maybe we should say that he lost almost everything, because he still had his life, and he still had Jehovah. But his wife had turned on him, and his friends had turned on him. We're familiar with the poor job that his three friends, Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar, did in encouraging him. In fact, they did much more harm than good.

Job could have given up on himself, just like everyone else around him did. But he didn't! In fact, he was even able to do some witnessing to his three troublemaking 'friends'.

In the end, Job's endurance and integrity was rewarded. Not only did he regain his health, he regained all his wealth, he had a family again, and he lived for another 70 years. So Job's story had a happy ending. Jehovah was watching over him, and he trusted that Job would be able to endure. But do you know what? Jehovah trusts us to endure, too, just like Job! Although these times are harder and more critical than any other time in history, Jehovah thinks we can handle it. And we can! If we just rely on him, and stay humble, like Job, we can endure right on into the new world.

Another Bible character that can give us encouragement is the Apostle Paul. We're familiar with the sacrifices and changes that Saul had to make, he even had to change his name. He changed his personality, and went from being a haughty man to being a very humble man. But, as a traveling overseer, many in the congregations looked down upon him. We can see an example of that at 2 Corinthians 10:10. Speaking of Paul, it says:

"His letters are weighty and forceful, but his presence in person is weak and his speech contemptible."

So, it seems that there were some in the congregation that didn't think too much of Paul. Maybe his talks were boring. Maybe he was ugly. But, added to this fact, Paul also had a physical weakness, something he referred to as a "thorn in the flesh" at 2 Corinthians 12:7.

Now, in that chapter, Paul comments about this weakness of his in some detail. Although he doesn't specifically mention what it is, he does tell how he viewed it. His comments about his weakness are really quite profound. You see, his words in these verses can be a good pattern for those of us suffering from depression or any other sort of illness or weakness. We're going to read these expressions of Paul at 2 Corinthians 12:7-10, starting with the second half of verse 7. Paul here says:

"Therefore, that I might not feel overly exalted, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, an angel of Satan, to keep slapping me, that I might not be overly exalted. In this behalf I three times entreated the Lord that it might depart from me; and yet he really said to me: "My undeserved kindness is sufficient for you; for my power is being made perfect in weakness." Most gladly, therefore, will I rather boast as respects my weaknesses, that the power of the Christ may like a tent remain over me. Therefore I take pleasure in weaknesses, in insults, in cases of need, in persecutions and difficulties, for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am powerful."

So, how did Paul view his illness? As a curse from Jehovah? No! Instead, he viewed it as a tool--a tool to keep him humble. Although he had asked Jehovah to remove this "thorn" from him, the answer was no. Paul viewed his weakness as an opportunity to rely upon Jehovah even more fully.

In other words, the apostle Paul saw the good in his weakness. He knew that 'every cloud has a silver lining.' Well, he tried his best to find the 'silver lining' in his 'cloud'. He took his handicap and actually used it to his benefit. Imagine how glad that must have made Jehovah's heart!

Another point worth mentioning with regard to Paul's condition is that he prayed for his situation to improve. Well, verse 9 said that his "thorn in the flesh" was not taken away, unlike Job's source of difficulty, which was taken away. Instead, Paul had to learn how to deal with his problem, with Jehovah's help, of course. And we know that Paul continued to serve Jehovah with courage right up to his death, several years after he penned the words we just read. We, too, may not always have the source of our difficulties or depression removed. But, we can learn to deal with these difficulties, and improve the quality of our life.

For some of us, though, the only relief from our difficulties will be Jehovah's coming new world--a world where no one will ever be depressed again! At Revelation 21:4, God has promised an end to depression and the things that cause it. There, we read:

"And he will wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore. The former things have passed away."

When it says 'tears will be no more,' its talking about tears of sadness, tears from having to say goodbye to our loved ones, tears from economic troubles, tears from family troubles. Those tears won't be around any more. But tears of joy--there'll be lots of those!

How about pain? The verse says that 'pain will be no more.' It's not talking about physical pain, just like the verse is not saying that the tear ducts in your eyes will no longer function. No, it's talking about emotional pain--yes, the pain that comes along with depression. It will be a thing of the past very soon!

But until then, friends, be loving and show empathy toward those who are struggling with depression and the things that cause it. And if you are one of those who is struggling with depression, please remember the words at 1 Peter 5:7, which show us how Jehovah views the depressed:

"while you throw all of your anxiety upon him, because he cares for you."

Even when it seems that you are all alone in your struggle, and it seems that no one cares, remember, God cares! Jehovah cares about you, he even has the hairs of your head numbered. And, just like Job, he knows that you can make it through this difficult time in history, bringing lasting happiness to yourself and pleasure to our loving Creator who cares about us, Jehovah.