The
Thirty-Day Challenge: Depression
This
challenge is based on the belief that at the heart of all depression is some
way that we do not yet know God. The cure, no matter how slowly it takes
effect, is to get to know God in the ways we lack. An integral part of this
journey is to seek God in his word each day in order to discover how he would
speak to both sides of this experience. Through his word, he will show us ways
we do not yet know him, and will reveal himself to us in the very ways we are
missing.
To
complete this challenge, spend thirty consecutive days (as best as possible),
reading in the word of God from wherever you left off the day before. Then,
prayerfully talk to God about whatever stands out to you, asking that he would
reveal all the ways you do not know him in relation to what you are reading,
and the ways you could know him through faith in those words of Scripture.
There
are no requirements for which part of the Bible we should read (although
reading through books like Leviticus and Numbers would likely create
unnecessary frustration for this journey). The book of Psalms deals with the
full range of human emotions, along with beautiful and poetic expressions of
the person and work of God, so that may be helpful for many people. The gospels
show Jesus relating to people in such personal encounters that this may be
exactly what some need to experience. And the letters to the churches describe
the doctrines and practices of the church in ways that may help reveal what we
don’t already experience in our relationship with God. Whatever the case, God
ministers to us through his word, so wade into the river of God’s words and let
them comfort your soul.
If
you copy-and-paste this into your word processor, it should give you a workable
document to use as a journal of your journey.
Day 1:
Scripture _________________________________________________
1.
Ways I do not know God _________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
2. Ways
I could know God __________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
Day 2:
Scripture _________________________________________________
1.
Ways I do not know God _________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
2. Ways
I could know God __________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
Day 3:
Scripture _________________________________________________
1.
Ways I do not know God _________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
2. Ways
I could know God __________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
Day 4:
Scripture _________________________________________________
1.
Ways I do not know God _________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
2. Ways
I could know God __________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
Day 5:
Scripture _________________________________________________
1.
Ways I do not know God _________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
2. Ways
I could know God __________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
Day 6:
Scripture _________________________________________________
1.
Ways I do not know God _________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
2. Ways
I could know God __________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
Day 7:
Scripture _________________________________________________
1.
Ways I do not know God _________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
2. Ways
I could know God __________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
Day 8:
Scripture _________________________________________________
1.
Ways I do not know God _________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
2. Ways
I could know God __________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
Day 9:
Scripture _________________________________________________
1.
Ways I do not know God _________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
2. Ways
I could know God __________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
Day 10:
Scripture ________________________________________________
1.
Ways I do not know God _________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
2. Ways
I could know God __________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
Day 11:
Scripture ________________________________________________
1.
Ways I do not know God _________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
2. Ways
I could know God __________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
Day 12:
Scripture ________________________________________________
1.
Ways I do not know God _________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
2. Ways
I could know God __________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
Day 13:
Scripture ________________________________________________
1.
Ways I do not know God _________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
2. Ways
I could know God __________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
Day 14:
Scripture ________________________________________________
1.
Ways I do not know God _________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
2. Ways
I could know God __________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
Day 15:
Scripture ________________________________________________
1.
Ways I do not know God _________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
2. Ways
I could know God __________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
Day 16:
Scripture ________________________________________________
1.
Ways I do not know God _________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
2. Ways
I could know God __________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
Day 17:
Scripture ________________________________________________
1.
Ways I do not know God _________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
2. Ways
I could know God __________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
Day 18:
Scripture ________________________________________________
1.
Ways I do not know God _________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
2. Ways
I could know God __________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
Day 19:
Scripture ________________________________________________
1.
Ways I do not know God _________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
2. Ways
I could know God __________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
Day 20:
Scripture ________________________________________________
1.
Ways I do not know God _________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
2. Ways
I could know God __________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
Day 21:
Scripture ________________________________________________
1.
Ways I do not know God _________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
2. Ways
I could know God __________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
Day 22:
Scripture ________________________________________________
1.
Ways I do not know God _________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
2. Ways
I could know God __________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
Day 23:
Scripture ________________________________________________
1.
Ways I do not know God _________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
2. Ways
I could know God __________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
Day 24:
Scripture ________________________________________________
1.
Ways I do not know God _________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
2. Ways
I could know God __________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
Day 25:
Scripture ________________________________________________
1.
Ways I do not know God _________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
2. Ways
I could know God __________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
Day 26:
Scripture ________________________________________________
1.
Ways I do not know God _________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
2. Ways
I could know God __________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
Day 27:
Scripture ________________________________________________
1.
Ways I do not know God _________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
2. Ways
I could know God __________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
Day 28:
Scripture ________________________________________________
1.
Ways I do not know God _________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
2. Ways
I could know God __________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
Day 29:
Scripture ________________________________________________
1.
Ways I do not know God _________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
2. Ways
I could know God __________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
Day 30:
Scripture ________________________________________________
1.
Ways I do not know God _________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
2. Ways
I could know God __________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
For further reading on this viewpoint of
depression as a journey of getting to know God in the ways we do not know him,
see my blogpost, “Robin Williams: Famous Man, Infamous Battle”. That
gives some seed thoughts on this subject, with a fuller expression of my faith
that God will continuously lead us to know him better than we have ever known
him before, even when our starting place has been labelled as depression.
© 2014 Monte Vigh ~ Box 517,
Merritt, BC, V1K 1B8 ~ in2freedom@gmail.com
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