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Psalm for non-Christian who's depressed - 8/13/2008 9:47:47 AM
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mateosbaby
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Hi everyone-
I have a friend who's not a Christian, but she is so depressed and suicidal that I know I have to tell her about Jesus. I know she won't outright listen to the Gospel message, so instead, I was thinking maybe there's a Psalm or some other passage in the Bible that I could quote without telling her where it's from. Kind of like something to peak her interest in where I got it from and in what it says so I can use it to open up the Gospel for her. Does anyone have any ideas? It's so hard to find something that doesn't say "God" or "Lord" in it, but I may have to substitute temporarily until she asks where I got it from (does that make sense?).
Thanks so much for any help/advice/suggestions you can give me. I am so terribly worried about her.
Sara
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RE: Psalm for non-Christian who's depressed - 8/13/2008 11:50:28 AM
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mvic
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Hi Sara,
It's very difficult to give practical advice on the internet if someone is, as you say, so depressed to be suicidal. Please help her by convincing her to seek professional (medical) advice.
To answer your direct question: there is no temporary substitute for God and His love for us; and that includes His love for you and your friend.
So go right out and tell her that God loves her and will see her through this.
God bless. You're both in my prayers.
_____________________________
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RE: Psalm for non-Christian who's depressed - 8/13/2008 12:31:13 PM
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justajerk
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Psalm 119.
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"Men think all things would be very glorious, if they might be done according to their mind. Perhaps, indeed, they would -- but with their glory, not the glory of God." - John Owen
monergism
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RE: Psalm for non-Christian who's depressed - 8/13/2008 12:40:07 PM
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drussell52
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From: Michigan
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Hi Sara, I would suggest Psalm 139 from the standpoint that God is her/our creator and knows her/us inside out. Everything He created was good, is believed by some to mean worked as it was intended to by God, the creator. I agree, professional help, love, and prayer is what this friend needs at the moment. Try go encourage her to see a counselor who is known for their faith in God, it'll make a huge difference. If in the US, look in to I think it's New Life Ministry. Keep us posted please.
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RE: Psalm for non-Christian who's depressed - 8/13/2008 2:59:55 PM
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mateosbaby
Posts: 3
Joined: 4/25/2006
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Thanks for the advice. I should have mentioned in my first post, she is seeing a psychiatrist and a therapist (neither Christians since she's not a Christian), although not regularly because of the work schedule of her husband and needing someone to watch their son. I thank God that it scares her to commit suicide because she's worried about what that would do to her son. At least it's keeping her alive for now.
As for the Psalms, 139 sounds like it would bring me out of a depression (I've been there before, too), so I think I can copy it to her and say this makes me feel better. It's not like I've never read it before, just never had to in the case of a depression.
Again, thank you so much for your responses. I hope and pray that this will force her to ask more about my own faith and how I "stay out of depression." If this does take root, I can refer her to one of the pastors I grew up with at my home church, which is just down the street from her. He will be able to help her so much more than I can, especially being in 2 different states.
I also just happened across Psalm 130 flipping through. I know she is feeling really bad about being imperfect, a bad person, whatever (she's not really, in the human sense of the word). Do you think that might help her, too?
Sara
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RE: Psalm for non-Christian who's depressed - 8/13/2008 3:59:46 PM
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beachcooky
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Joined: 6/21/2008
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quote:
Hi Sara, I would suggest Psalm 139 from the standpoint that God is her/our creator and knows her/us inside out. Everything He created was good, is believed by some to mean worked as it was intended to by God, the creator. I agree, professional help, love, and prayer is what this friend needs at the moment. Try go encourage her to see a counselor who is known for their faith in God, it'll make a huge difference. If in the US, look in to I think it's New Life Ministry. Keep us posted please.
Hi Sara! I have been suicidal in the past (and almost died until people found me) and have been depressed since age 9. And I agree with drussell52, Psalm 139 is an excellent verse. My favorite part is "You are fearfully and wonderfully made"...and also this part: "How precious and weighty also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How vast is the sum of them! If I could count them, they would be more in number than the sand. When I awoke, [could I count to the end] I would still be with You."
See? God thinks about us sooo much that is' more than the number of sand! WOW! How amazing is that?
Tell her that in the Psalms, David was depressed as well. A lot of his psalms reflected that. Numerous times, he actually thought that God abandoned him! "How long o Lord? will You forget me forever? how long will You hide Your face from me? how long must i wrestle with my thoughts and everyday have sorrow in my heart? how long will my enemy triumph over me? Look on me and answer, o Lord my God. give light to my eyes or i will sleep in death"
_____________________________
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RE: Psalm for non-Christian who's depressed - 8/13/2008 5:57:47 PM
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drussell52
Posts: 207
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From: Michigan
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Sara, hi again.. As I read your next post, you think her scared to commit suicide, may be God's way of not letting her do it?
He is not willing that any should perish, we know that as believers,
she may not. I just think, and this is my own opinion, that she or any would respond favorably to adapting a life of faith if they are shown that God knows your areas of excellence and your areas where you sorely fail.. That whole concept may take a season to soak in, none of this is like a 5-minute program where you get someone to come to faith..
I think a lot of the Psalms are great because they are full of human emotion and human struggle, crying out to God our Lord, Savior, Creator. I will keep her and the family and you in prayer, because it helps me realize romans 12:1-2 in my own life.
I sing the praises of christian counseling because it helped me realize emotionally the bottom was falling out if you will, sympathy from the counselor was minimal, but after having some time to hurt, was helped to heal by considering what rules were going to be in my life from this moment on, and what rules had I gotten, that were to be discarded. Then, the local church served as bridge from the counseling back in to the thick of it if you will. Practically that took 6 months, twice a month, because out of pocket was paying for the needed counseling.
Keep us posted, feel free to reply here or PM.
May He keep you and yours in perfect peace. Isa 6:3.
Drussell52
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