“I know you are in there, and I’m not going away until you let me in.” I continued pounding on the metal door of the one room servant’s quarters. I had not seen my young disciple for several days and finally learned he was so depressed that he had locked himself in the ten by ten feet room where he was living. Even with all my pleas, not a sound came from inside. It would have been easy to assume he was not home and gone away. But I knew he was there. I finally squatted on the step and just spoke encouraging words. After around thirty minutes, I heard the inside latch click. I entered the windowless room with the only light coming through the open door. I saw a disheveled and desperate man sitting on the edge of his cot. I sat down placing my arm across his shoulder and waited quietly. After some time, he fell into my arms and burst into tears. “It is hopeless! It is no use to try anymore! I’m worthless!” I listened as he poured out his despair. We talked for an hour. Later, that day he came to our house and ate his first meal in several days. He soon returned to his normal cheerful self.
Some of you reading this have been in that dark windowless room sometime for days with no hope. We, that have been there, think we are the only person who has ever felt such gloom. We dare not tell anyone. Others will think we are crazy. We are skilled at wearing a happy face when forced to go outside, but darkness still shrouds the inside. But know this, you are not by yourself. Even great characters in the Bible had their darkrooms. For Elijah, it was a cave. He had even asked God to let him die. The psalmist said, I am deeply depressed (Psalms 42:6 NET). David wrote when running from Saul, They have set a snare for my feet, which makes me depressed (Psalms 57:6 NET). Jeremiah looked down on the burned city of Jerusalem, My mind keeps reflecting on it, and I become depressed (Lam 3:20 NET).
We may think He will, but God does not reject us when we are depressed. When Elijah sat under a juniper tree, praying to die, God send an angel that baked him a loaf of bread, gave him a jug of water, and let him rest. Forty days later in his dark cave, the LORD God himself passed by telling Elijah he was not alone and his work was not finished. Luke recorded three occasions in the Book of Acts when the Apostle Paul was depressed. Each time either an angel or Jesus came and encouraged him.
Paul writes what appears to be another instance of depression. But God, who comforts the depressed, comforted us by the coming of Titus (2 Corinthians 7:6). What helped Paul out of his darkness this time was the coming of Titus. Something he said or news he brought comforted Paul. Several lessons come out of these verses. First, you are not the only person who faces the despair of depression. Second, God does not chastise us or reject us when we curl up alone in our dark place. But neither will He answer our prayer to die. He wants us to know He still has a purpose for our life. Third, the LORD God may not pass by Himself or He may not send an angel. He may bring another believer to comfort us as Titus did for Paul.
The Holy Spirit used me to help my despondent disciple locked in his room. Today, he is the top leader of his denomination. For him, I was his Titus. My wife has often been my Titus. I remember once my teenage daughter came into my dark bedroom where I lay with my head under the covers. God used her as a Titus. You may have never experienced the torment of depression, but we can all be a Titus to someone. You need the leading of the Holy Spirit because you probably have never seen anything but their happy face. Keep knocking until they let you in. You may need to sit down and just speak words of encouragement or put your arm around them and wait quietly. Be patient! Who knows, a great future leader may be sitting inside.
Some of you reading this are sitting in your dark place right now or moving towards it. Do not wait for Jesus to come or for Him to send an angel. He can, but he may send a Titus. I know, like all of us when we sit overwhelmed in our dark and windowless place, that you want to be left alone. Elijah even left his servant behind when heading into the wilderness and toward the cave. You may want to die, but God will not answer that prayer. And Jesus holds the keys of death so you have no right to end it yourself—I know; I have been there. Listen! Titus may be at the door right now knocking and speaking encouraging words. I know you don’t want to, but unlock the latch.
SUSTAINING WORD FOR THE WEEK: Be a Titus for someone this week. If you need a Titus, he or she may be knocking on your door. Jesus has a purpose for your life.