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**Notes today were taken from: https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/...
Today Brook and I discuss the subject of depression. If you have ever been depressed then you know first hand how horrible it is. We both endured it. It is lonely, tormenting, sorrowful and dark. There are many forms and kinds of depression. Most of them have to do with loss, and those losses take on the form of endless things and circumstances. There is also clinical depression.

There is yet another kind. The kind that comes without cause. For Charles Spurgeon, the celebrated 19th-century preacher, depression was more than just circumstantial. When he spoke of it in his sermons and lectures, his examples, which were often rooted in his own experience, included a significant form of depression: the kind that comes without cause.

In one sermon, he said, "You may be surrounded with all the comforts of life and yet be in wretchedness more gloomy than death if the spirits are depressed. You may have no outward cause whatever for sorrow and yet if the mind is dejected, the brightest sunshine will not relieve your gloom. There are times when all our evidences get clouded and all our joys are fled. Though we may still cling to the Cross, yet it is with a desperate grasp."

Some people expected there to be a quick fix, a logical solution, or some sort of spiritual willpower that could defeat it, but light and joy were evasive.

Spurgeon clearly knew this helplessness and how poorly people can react to it. He spoke directly to harsh and insensitive “helpers” from the pulpit—those who were quick to cast blame, quick to tell depressed people to just pull themselves out of it, and slow to show compassion.

He also would not tolerate the accusation that “good Christians” do not get depressed. “God’s people,” he preached, “sometimes walk in darkness, and see no light. There are times when the best and brightest of saints have no joy.” See Isaiah 50:10.

He was clear that depression isn’t a guaranteed sign of whether or not someone is a Christian; nor is it a sign you aren’t growing in your faith. It is possible to be faithful and depressed: “Depression of spirit is no index of declining Grace—the very loss of joy and the absence of assurance may be accompanied by the greatest advancement in the spiritual life.”

"I find myself frequently depressed - perhaps more so than any other person here. And I find no better cure for that depression than to trust in the Lord with all my heart, and seek to realize afresh the power of the peace-speaking blood of Jesus, and His infinite love in dying upon the cross to put away all my transgressions."
~Charles Spurgeon

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There was no better way than for us to start off with Psalm 46. Which historically had to do with a war of foreign invading armies that surrounded Jerusalem. Brook begins by sharing some very deeply touching church history surrounding this particular Psalm.

During Martin Luther's day, the Bubonic plague was quickly causing deaths in the little town of Wittenberg. At that time there was an order for him to flee with his son and pregnant wife. He defied the order and chose to stay. His son nearly died in his arms. Death and disease were taking a toll on him.

Those early November weeks of the plague were definitely a difficult and bittersweet time for the Luther household. In the midst of all this affliction, the tenth anniversary of the posting of the Ninety-five Theses also passed.

Some scholars have argued that it was during these weeks of plague-ridden death, risk, stress, and heartache, that Luther penned this majestic and comforting hymn Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott (A Mighty Fortress is our God).

That beautiful song was written from Psalm 46. No doubt something that kept his faith alive, and strength to endure during the worst time in his life. There is a verse in this Psalm that says, "There is a river, the streams thereof shall make glad the city of God."

So we see that though the most extreme things that can happen, God will see to it that you know "there is a river" and that river has streams. Those streams are His mercies that endure forever.

""The farmer does not sift his wheat because he dislikes it, but just the opposite; he sifts it because it is precious. And thou, child of God, thy trials and changes, and constant catastrophes, and afflictions, are no proofs of want of affection on the part of the Most High, but the very contrary."
~ Charles H. Spurgeon

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In this episode we begin with what the act of obedience is, and the greater, more beautiful meaning of it. It is key to the further topics we bring in regarding the final days of this "present evil age." This nation is set for a certain fall. A famine is going to happen, and is well underway. Our economy
is also certain to crash, and there will be the end of the dollar.

The war between the Ukraine and Russia is causing a domino effect of all kinds of catastrophe on a total world wide scale. What obedience means now at this last time, will be what will cause you to walk in safety with God.
Staying in your bibles will give you strength and courage to stand in faith for yourselves, homes and families.

In the Bible cover to cover God makes Himself known to all humanity through six thousand years of proof that He is the God who saves. He has shown His strength and help to every generation since, and will always do the same. Prayer and knowing His word will strengthen the faith that must go together with obedience, as Brook highly and strongly emphasized.

It is now critical that everyone take what is happening seriously, and start right away in preparation for things that are upon us. There is no time to waste anymore. Obedience to the Lord by faith will make everyone sharper. There are many other things that we discussed as we allow the living waters to flow out.

" That obedience which is not voluntary is disobedience, for the Lord looketh at the heart, and if He seeth that we serve Him from force, and not because we love Him, He will reject our offering. ~C.H. Spurgeon