Do you ever wake up feeling down, depressed, or discouraged? Some days seem worse than others. You feel sluggish, with no drive or desires—just wiped out. Waking up like that can be challenging, especially as a Christian believer.
You are not alone. The great English pastor Charles Spurgeon suffered from significant bouts of depression. His horrible battle with gout and all the pressure he lived under no doubt compounded his depression. He died at 57 years of age.
"I know, perhaps as well as anyone, what depression means and what it is to feel myself sinking lower and lower. Yet at the worst, when I reach the lowest depths, I have an inward peace which no pain or depression can in the least disturb. Trusting in Jesus Christ my Savior, there is still a blessed quietness in the deep caverns of my soul, though upon the surface, a rough tempest may be raging, and there may be little apparent calm." Charles Spurgeon
Steps you can take
Remember, God’s promises. He is faithful. You are loved by him. He loved you when you were still a sinner, and nothing you can do will ever change that. Remember, God works even on the days you feel discouragement.
Take time for the Word of God, prayer, and meditation. The goal is to “pray” yourself “happy” before stepping out into your day.
Listen to good, uplifting worship music that reminds you of how good God is.
Know you are not the only person this happens to.
Keep a journal and be honest with yourself, but work on practicing gratitude.
Limit social media to avoid the comparison game.
Let go of grudges and forgive others to find peace.
Live today. Do not dwell on the past or worry about the future.
Speak truth to your heart and mind, and do not listen to the hostile critic that lives in you.
Get up and move around.
Why do we wake up “down” sometimes?
Disrupted sleep patterns or poor sleep quality.
Hormonal imbalances affecting mood. Stress can cause your cortisol level to rise, leading to anxiety, depression, and more. Thyroid problems can do the same thing. There is a lot more where those come from.
Chronic stress or ongoing life challenges. Those hormonal problems are often caused by how we handle life’s challenges.
Unresolved emotional issues or trauma. It greatly affects our mood when we do not forgive and instead choose to hold on to the bitterness.
Underlying health conditions. When you are young, you do not see or understand this one, but all sorts of health conditions affect you in more ways than you can imagine.
Isolation or loneliness.
Lack of purpose or direction in life
Comparison to others on social media.
Unmet personal goals.
Lack of gratitude or positive focus.
Bible Verses
Know that the Lord is always near when you are brokenhearted. Psalm 34:18.
He has promised to give us rest. Matthew 11:28.
We are to cast all our anxieties on Him1 Peter 5:7
We are to trust Him. Proverbs 3:5-6
Even in the valley of the shadow of death, he is with us. Psalm 23:4
Encouraging Quotes
“If you want to lift yourself up, lift up someone else.” Booker T. Washington
“Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving.” Albert Einstein
“You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose.” Dr. Seuss
“You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.” C.S. Lewis
“Go the extra mile. It’s never crowded.” Wayne Dyer
“Success isn’t always about greatness. It’s about consistency. Consistent hard work leads to success. Greatness will come.” Dwayne Johnson
Spiritual manna indeed, thank you.