Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again—my Savior and my God! (Psalm 42:5)
Depression hit me hard. I couldn’t throw it off all morning. Marie’s dead, I kept thinking. She had been so alive the day before, smiling, making plans. She underwent coronary-artery bypass surgery, and the doctor had expected recovery. But because of other medical problems, she died seventeen hours after surgery.
Marie had been active in our church, helping us form a Sunday-school class for divorced singles. She had encouraged and strengthened many when they felt cast down and discouraged.
I dragged through until midafternoon. Things I needed to do no longer seemed important. I couldn’t rise above the grief and sense of loss. Finally I went for a five-mile run in the rain. I came back, still sad, but my depression had lifted. I felt normal again.
For me, running has proved valuable in coping with depression. There was a time when I could mope around and ask, as the psalmist did, “Why are you cast down, O my soul?” Now I run.
Something about vigorous activity dulls the impact of negative feelings. Running roots out anger, lessens anxiety, and breaks down hostility.
I see depressed people all the time. They visit my office; they call me on the phone. They’re sluggish. They do a minimum of physical movement.
I’ve often thought that if I had to characterize depressed people by a physical position, I would use words such as sitting or lying down. That was the position of Elijah when he went through a tough time (1 Kings 19:4) "I have had enough, Lord," he said. "Take my life, for I am no better than my ancestors who have already died" (1 Kings 19:4).
In low times people want to shut themselves away from others. They take the phone off the hook, crawl under the covers, and sleep. Or they sit and stare at nothing for hours. The more they think, the more they brood and fill their minds with morbid thoughts.
Yet when those same people get their marvelously made bodies into action, things change. They may experience physical tiredness, but they also feel better about life and about themselves.
In the years I’ve been jogging, I’ve never felt depressed at the end of a workout. I’ve had aching legs, blistered heels and toes, once or twice even muscle cramps, but never depression. I groan and strain during the run. But when it’s all over and I stand under the shower, I find myself singing and enjoying life. I always like myself a lot more and believe God is pleased that I’m trying to take good care of his holy temple.
Thanks, Lord Jesus, for lifting my spirits. With your help, I can overcome all my obstacles. Amen.