Joy In the Moment: Rainey Days and Mondays
In 1971, Karen and Richard Carpenter released the song “Rainey Days and Mondays”. (I’m really dating myself here!) The main lyric in the song is, “Rainey days and Mondays always get me down.” Those of us who struggle with a TBI, PTSD, spinal cord injury or other brain related malady understand that this lyric is not necessarily the case for us. The nature of the “beast” is, anything can get us down, stealing our joy and causing depression. It can be the constant pain of a headache, nerve pain, loud noises, anxiety, people. So how do we deal with “Rainey days and Mondays”? This seemingly constant sorrow, depression or down feeling?
Since sustaining my SCI and mTBI, I too, have struggled with depression and the “blues”. Dealing with the constant nerve pain and imbalance has kept me down quite often; stealing my joy and bliss. But taking my eyes off of myself and my situation helps. Focusing on prayer, Bible reading or listening to praise and worship music encourages me greatly. There is that message of hope. (https://www.pamdepuydt.com/brain-injury-101-a-message-of-hope/) The Bible is filled with so many instances of people suffering from depression and sorrow. Granted, sometimes you do need medical help, but remember, Jesus is our great physician and He can and does help.
Job and David:
Think of Job. Here is a man who had his share of sorrows. First, all his livestock was killed. Secondly, he lost all his children. Thirdly, his health failed him. Fourthly, his wife failed him when she said, “Curse God and die.” (Job 2:9b). And finally, his friends psycho-analyzed him and said it was because of his sin he suffered. With friends like that, Job didn’t need enemies. Yes, he suffered. Yet in his suffering, he maintained his faith in Yahweh, the God of the Bible.
Another who often found himself in the throes of depression was King David was . David was a musician; it was David’s music that soothed King Saul when he was going through fits of rage. So, when David was at his worst, what did he do? He turned to his God, Yahweh. David wrote Psalms and sang to the Lord; and because he cried out in his pain and anguish, he found solace and peace afterwards.
Nehemiah’s sorrow:
Nehemiah was another who sank into sorrow. His sorrow was not a result of a TBI, rather the knowledge that the walls of his beloved Jerusalem were in need of repair. He was the cup bearer to the king of Babylon, and the king noticed Nehemiah’s depression. He was released from his duties to travel home to Jerusalem and found nothing had been done to complete the wall of the city. Long story short, with the help and encouragement of the people, they rebuilt the walls and the gates in a mere 52 days. And after the wall was complete, there was a celebration, reading from the Book of the Law.
“Then Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, ‘This day is holy to the Lord, your God; do not mourn or weep.’ For all the people were weeping when they heard the words of the law. Then he said to them, ‘Go, eat of the fat, drink of the sweet and send portions to him who has nothing prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.’ (Nehemiah 8:9-10 NASB).
The Joy of the LORD is your strength!
For the joy of the LORD is your strength. The joy of the Lord? That sense of deep abiding gladness, bliss, thrill, enjoyment, delight; the pleasure of knowing and trusting the Lord? Yes, that joy; let it help you be strong.
And this joy only comes when you know the Lord Jesus. Zephaniah 3:17 in the NIV states, “The Lord your God is with you; the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in His love He will no longer rebuke you but will rejoice over you with singing.” He will rejoice over me with singing?!? Wow!! That’s enough right there to bring me out of the despair I may feel, what about you?
Turn your eyes to the Lord, the God of the Bible. He rejoices over you, even in your pain and sorrow. Setting your mind on Him will ease your pain, your sorrow, your depression. I know, for He has done this for me.
