Asaph, a Levite from the priestly line in Israel, was a singer who served as David’s appointed choir director. A psalmist who wrote righteous instruction for God’s people, he wrote Psalm 77 after he fell into a deep depression: “My soul refused to be comforted” (77:2).

The truth is, Asaph’s experience isn’t unusual for believers. Indeed, these deep, dark trials were experienced by great preachers of the past. For example, Charles Haddon Spurgeon was known as one of the godliest Bible preachers of all time, a praying man who sought the Lord continually. Yet he faced deep, awful depressions (in his day, the condition was referred to as “melancholy”).

John William Fletcher, another great servant of God, suffered deep depression. Fletcher ministered under none other than John Wesley, who called him the most godly man on the face of the earth. This man exuded the Spirit of Christ, yet he also experienced the depths that Asaph described. A horrible depression would come over him out of nowhere, afflicting him for days on end.

Andrew Bonar, a godly pastor of the nineteenth century, described having similar experiences. He wrote this agonizing entry in his journal: “I need to be free from the shadow of fear, uncertainty … Shame and sorrow fill me because of my unholiness … There seems to be a cloud between me and the Son of Righteousness.”

Each of these prayerful ministers faced an hour of deep depression. Not even the godly, devoted apostle Paul was immune. He wrote to the Corinthians, “Trouble … came to us in Asia: that we were burdened beyond measure, above strength, so that we despaired even of life” (2 Corinthians 1:8). Of course, Paul was delivered and came out victoriously!

Even Christ faced a deeply trying hour and he told Andrew and Philip, “Now my soul is troubled” (John 12:27). When Jesus said this, he was facing the cross, knowing the time of his death was near. Later, Jesus told those who would crucify him, “This is your hour, and the power of darkness” (Luke 22:53). Jesus was saying, in essence, “This is Satan’s hour.” Likewise, you can be sure your dark, troubling hour is Satan’s doing.

It’s good to know that the Lord doesn’t put awful depression on his people. He wants to help you recover your joy, peace, and rest as you come into a clear understanding of his own glorious purpose in your testing — delivered and victorious.

Scripture shows us four ways the Holy Spirit moves in our lives. First, as Jesus says, no one comes to know him unless they are born again of the Spirit. Therefore, God’s Spirit dwells in every Christian. Second, we are called to abide in the Spirit, to remain intimate with him in prayer. Third, we are to be continually filled with the Spirit, constantly drinking from his well of living water. None of this means the Spirit leaves us but, rather, that we have a part in our relationship with him.

Finally, there is an outpouring of the Spirit that fills us with power, something that is beyond our ability to generate. You may wonder, “If I’m born of the Spirit, and the Spirit abides in me, and I continually drink of the Spirit, why would I need the Spirit poured out on me?” Because it helps us understand our need for God. We could never do the works of his kingdom in our own passion or zeal. It must come from him.

Sometimes we get it backwards in the Church. We think God chooses the fiery person, the one who will get everyone else zealous for God. But the Lord isn’t looking for a fiery heart; he’s looking for a hungry heart — one he can fill with his very own mind, heart and Spirit. That means even the meekest among us qualifies.

Note the word Jesus uses to describe the outpouring of the Spirit: “Stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high” (Luke 24:49). This suggests an external move of the Spirit in our lives, something that comes from outside us. All other moves of the Spirit in us are internal — being born again, abiding, drinking our fill. But this is an action God does for us. We depend on him to bring it to us.

Jesus said of John, “Among those born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist” (Luke 7:28). Christ dignified this godly man. He was the one who would lay a straight path before the Messiah, in preparation for his coming: “Prepare the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God” (Isaiah 40:3).

We know that John was a student of Isaiah’s prophecies. The word that came to him could be traced to Isaiah’s writings, and John referred to Isaiah when the priests and Levites asked him to identify himself. When they inquired, “Who are you, really?” John always answered, “I am not the Christ” (John 1:20). Finally, when pressed further, he identified himself as the one about whom Isaiah prophesied: “I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Make straight the way of the Lord’” (John 1:23).

John the Baptist was anxious to confirm that Jesus was the Messiah. John’s followers were filled with reverence for Jesus as they described all the works he was performing, yet somewhere along the way doubt began to grip John’s heart. In spite of all the miracles Christ had performed, something troubled this godly man’s soul. The same devil who tempted Jesus in the wilderness is the one who attempted to destroy John’s faith.

Jesus knew that John was human, and no matter how powerfully anointed he was, he was still subject to all the feelings and passions that are common to man. Christ knew John was in danger of being overwhelmed by doubt. Jesus had been through the same test himself, during his forty days in the wilderness, and he was able to tell John, “The devil is setting you up. But you cannot entertain his lies.”

John received Jesus’ message to him, which was, in essence, “John, there awaits a blessing of faith and reassurance for you if you will resist Satan’s lie. Do not allow unbelief about who I am to take root in you.”

Right now, Satan wants you to be anxious about God’s promises concerning your life, your family, your future, your ministry. In a word, the enemy wants you to give up.

Beloved, God is doing a work in you. John took his doubt directly to Jesus and Jesus gave him exactly what he needed. Likewise, hold on in faith and you will see his perfect work completed in your soul.

“That in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2:7).

God has shown his loving, warmhearted kindness to us. Therefore, we can wake up shouting, “Hallelujah! God, Christ, and the Holy Spirit want to be near me.”

Every Christian will face temptations and hardships, but in the midst of our trials, we are able to abound with thanksgiving because of his everlasting kindness toward us. Paul tells us this is exactly why God has made us to sit together with Christ.

One of the great blessings that becomes ours when we are made to sit in heavenly places is that we enjoy the privilege of acceptance. “He made us accepted in [Christ]” (Ephesians 1:6). The Greek word for “accepted” here means highly favored. That is different from the English usage, which can be interpreted to mean “received as adequate.” This signifies something that can be endured, suggesting an attitude of, “I can live with it.” That’s not the case with Paul’s usage. His use of “accepted” translates as, “God has highly favored us.” We are very special to him because we are in our place in Christ.

You see, because God accepted Christ’s sacrifice, he now sees only one, corporate man: Christ, and those who are bound to him by faith. In short, our flesh has died in God’s eyes. How? Jesus did away with our old nature at the cross. So now, when God looks at us, he sees only Christ. In turn, we need to learn to see ourselves as God does. That means not focusing solely on our sins and weaknesses, but on the victory that Christ won for us at the cross.

The parable of the prodigal son provides a powerful illustration of the acceptance that comes when we’re given a heavenly position in Christ. You know the story: a young man took his inheritance from his father and squandered it on a sinful life. Then, once the son became completely bankrupt — morally, emotionally, and spiritually — he thought of his father and was convinced he had lost all favor with him.

The son returned to his father, repentant and broken, expecting to be rejected but his father welcomed him with open arms of forgiveness and acceptance. “His father saw him and had compassion and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him” (Luke 15:20).

Experience the full blessings of your acceptance today!

Today our society is broken. We have out-of-control schools, confused leaders, collapsing banking systems, widespread unemployment, unmanageable social programs, and a complete breakdown of moral values. And to top it off, the earth could be standing on the brink of a nuclear catastrophe. In short, things seem to be spinning out of control.

How can believers possibly stand firm and steadfast in the midst of all this chaos? The author of Hebrews answers us: We must see Jesus in all that is happening in our lives (see Hebrews 2:9).

Some may wonder, “How could the Lord be in any of this? So many things in my life feel out of control.” Let me give you an example from Scripture. I am talking about a man whose world was turned upside down by chaos, shaking the very foundations of his faith. Yet, in the midst of it all he saw the Lord.

In his hour of great trial, the apostle Stephen stood unmoved as a mob of Christ-haters surrounded him armed with stones and ready to put him to death. Stephen knew he had only a matter of minutes to live — yet he was filled with peace and calm. What was the secret of this man’s endurance?

In that very moment, Stephen testified, “Look! I see the heavens opened and [Jesus] standing at the right hand of God” (Acts 7:56). He kept his eyes focused on Jesus alone. He could face a cruel death knowing Jesus was with him in it all.

I am convinced that the example of Stephen holds something of great importance for all who love and serve the Lord. It is this: When we truly see Jesus in the midst of our afflictions and hardships, we will always hear him tell us, “Fear not!”