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The Rock That Is Higher Than I: Help For Depression and Anxiety
Ken Mowery • October 6, 2019
Psalm 61:2 (NASB)
2 From the end of the earth I call to You when my heart is faint; Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.
The Psalmists request to be led to a rock means so much when you realize that he was crying out to God from a very low point in his life. That context matters, of course, because all of us can identify with "when my heart is faint". Those who believe in the God of the Bible have an immense resource available to them in that they can cry out to God at their lowest point and from that place they can envision, or hope for, a "rock that is higher..." This is a great hope of people who suffer symptoms of depression and anxiety.
This truth is one of the reasons I prefer offering counseling to people who are followers of Jesus Christ. The resources available to those who believe in the God of the Scriptures far exceed the problems that arise in life. Please read the following exposition of this verse from C.H.Spurgeon.
"From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee. He was banished from the spot which was the centre of his delight, and at the same time his mind was in a depressed and melancholy condition; both actually and figuratively he was an outcast, yet he does not therefore restrain prayer, but rather finds therein a reason for the louder and more importunate cries. To be absent from the place of divine worship was a sore sorrow to saints in the olden times; they looked upon the tabernacle as the centre of the world, and they counted themselves to be at the fag end of the universe when they could no longer resort to the sacred shrine; their heart was heavy as in a strange land when they were banished from its solemnities. Yet even they knew right well that no place is unsuitable for prayer. There may be an end of the earth, but there must not be an end to devotion. On creation's verge we may call upon God, for even there he is within call. No spot is too dreary, no condition too deplorable; whether it be the world's end or life's end, prayer is equally available. To pray in some circumstances needs resolve, and the psalmist here expresses it, I will cry. It was a wise resolution, for had he ceased to pray he would have become the victim of despair; there is an end to a man when he makes an end to prayer. Observe that David never dreamed of seeking any other God; he did not imagine the dominion of Jehovah to be local: he was at the end of the promised land, but he knew himself to be still in the territory of the Great King; to him only does he address his petitions.
When my heart is overwhelmed:—when the huge waves of trouble wash over me, and I am completely submerged, not only as to my head, but also my heart. It is hard to pray when the very heart is drowning, yet gracious men plead best at such times. Tribulation brings us to God, and brings God to us. Faith's greatest triumphs are achieved in her heaviest trials. It is all over with me, affliction is all over me; it encompasses me as a cloud, it swallows me up like a sea, it shuts me in with thick darkness, yet God is near, near enough to hear my voice, and I will call him. Is not this brave talk? Mark how our psalmist tells the Lord, as if he knew he were hearing him, that he intended to call upon him: our prayer by reason of our distress may be like to a call upon a far off friend, but our inmost faith has its quiet heart whispers to the Lord as to one who is assuredly our very present help. Lead me to the rock that is higher than I. I see thee to be my refuge, sure and strong; but alas! I am confused, and cannot find thee; I am weak, and cannot climb thee. Thou art so steadfast, guide me; thou art so high, uplift me. There is a mint of meaning in this brief prayer. Along the iron bound coast of our northern shores, lives are lost because the rocks are inaccessible to the shipwrecked mariner. A clergyman of one of the coast villages has with immense labour cut steps up from the beach to a large chamber, which he has excavated in the chalk cliffs; here many mariners have been saved; they have climbed the rock, which had else been too high for them, and they have escaped. We have heard of late, however, that the steps have been worn away by the storms, and that poor sailors have perished miserably within sight of the refuge which they could not reach, for it was too high for them: it is therefore proposed to drive in iron stanchions, and to hang up chain ladders that shipwrecked mariners may reach the chambers in the rock. The illustration is self interpreting. Our experience leads us to understand this verse right well, for the time was with us when we were in such amazement of soul be reason of sin, that although we knew the Lord Jesus to be a sure salvation for sinners, yet we could not come at him, by reason of our many doubts and forebodings. A Saviour would have been of no use to us if the Holy Spirit had not gently led us to him, and enabled us to rest upon him. To this day we often feel that we not only want a rock, but to be led to it. With this in view we treat very leniently the half unbelieving prayers of awakened souls; for in their bewildered state we cannot expect from them all at once a fully believing cry. A seeking soul should at once believe in Jesus, but it is legitimate for a man to ask to be led to Jesus; the Holy Spirit is able to effect such a leading, and he can do it even though the heart be on the borders of despair. How infinitely higher that we are is the salvation of God. We are low and grovelling, but it towers like some tall cliff far above us. This is its glory, and is our delight when we have once climbed into the rock, and claimed an interest in it; but while we are as yet trembling seekers, the glory and sublimity of salvation appal us, and we feel that we are too unworthy ever to be partakers of it; hence we are led to cry for grace upon grace, and to see how dependent we are for everything, not only for the Saviour, but for the power to believe on him." (From The Treasury of David)
As a believer you, by God's grace, can envision having solid footing far above the problems that may exist. That is a tremendous resource that is yours in Christ today.
Psalm 1:1-3 (NASB) 1 How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, Nor stand in the path of sinners, Nor sit in the seat of scoffers! 2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night. 3 He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, Which yields its fruit in its season And its leaf does not wither; And in whatever he does, he prospers. The person described in Psalm 1:3 is a picture of health and for our purpose today it is a picture of good mental health summed up in that phrase, “in whatever he does, he prospers.” What greater resource does one need than the assurance of well being given here? To be clear, this is a resource available to those who believe in the God of the Bible, who meditate on Scripture and apply its truth to life. As a therapist, I much prefer counseling with those who have such vast resource as is promised in Psalm 1:3. The words “in whatever he does, he prospers” at the very least imply the greatest possible outcome. This is a pretty good place to begin when it comes to achieving and maintaining good mental health. In the interest of delighting in the law of the Lord and meditating on it day and night, please enjoy the following excerpts from Bible commentators from long ago. “Here the gracious man is described both negatively (verse 1) and positively (verse 2). He is a man who does not walk in the counsel of the ungodly. He takes wiser counsel and walks in the commandments of the Lord his God. To him the ways of piety are paths of peace and pleasantness. His footsteps are ordered by the Word of God, and not by the cunning and wicked devices of carnal men. It is a rich sign of inward grace when the outward walk is changed, and when ungodliness is put far from our actions. Note next, he standeth not in the way of sinners. His company is of a choicer sort than it was. Although a sinner himself, he is now a blood-washed sinner, quickened by the Holy Spirit, and renewed in heart. Standing by the rich grace of God in the congregation of the righteous, he dares not herd with the multitude that do evil. Again it is said, "nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful." He finds no rest in the atheist's scoffings. Let others make a mock of sin, of eternity, of hell and heaven, and of the Eternal God; this man has learned better philosophy than that of the infidel and has too much sense of God's presence to endure to hear His name blasphemed.” The Treasury of David by C.H.Spurgeon “This Psalm carries blessedness in the frontpiece; it begins where we all hope to end: it may well be called a Christian's Guide, for it discovers the quicksands where the wicked sink down in perdition, and the firm ground on which the saints tread to glory.” Thomas Watson's Saints Spiritual Delight, 1660. “To meditate in God's word, is to discourse with ourselves concerning the great things contained in it, with close application of mind and fixedness of thought. We must have constant regard to the word of God, as the rule of our actions, and the spring of our comforts; and have it in our thoughts night and day. For this purpose no time is amiss.” Matthew Henry Concise Bible Commentary. Psalm 1 is great place to begin on the first day of the new year when it is common for people to look forward and chart a course for prosperity and success. In the Biblical view, well-being includes and initiates with the highest view and application of God’s Word
This verse presents the marvelous provision of understanding life from a God centered perspective. God has set healthy boundaries and that fact is clearly seen in creation. This is good news for people who suffer with depression and anxiety. One application of this truth is simply this: God has set limits. There is an end to troubling seasons of life, there will be times of blessing in life even though there may be times of trial. I so appreciate how Spurgeon spoke about this verse in the commentary below. "Thou hast set all the borders of the earth. Land and sea receive their boundaries from thee. Continents and islands are mapped by thy hand. Observe, again, how everything is ascribed to the divine agency by the use of the pronoun "thou;" not a word about natural laws, and original forces, but the Lord is seen as working all. It will be well when all our "ologies" are tinctured with "theology," and the Creator is seen at work amid his universe. The argument of our text is, that he who bounds the sea can restrain his foes; and he who guards the borders of the dry land can also protect his chosen. Thou hast made summer and winter. Return, then, good lord, to us the bright summer days of joy. We know that all our changes come of thee, we have already felt the rigours of thy winter, grant us now the genial glow of thy summer smile. The God of nature is the God of grace; and we may argue from the revolving seasons that sorrow is not meant to rule the year, the flowers of hope will blossom, and ruddy fruits of joy will ripen yet." The Treasury of David by C.H. Spurgeon.
Christian counseling often involves helping a person understand and appropriate new resources of strength to withstand the pressures of life. The Psalmist knew how to rely upon God's strength. C. H. Spurgeon's comments on this verse help clarify the tremendous resource of strength God brings to those who believe. "This is the way to live. With God always before us, we shall have the noblest companionship, the holiest example, the sweetest consolation, and the mightiest influence. This must be a resolute act of the mind. "I have set," and it must be maintained as a set and settled thing. Always to have an eye to the Lord's eye, and an ear for the Lord's voice -- this is the right state for the godly man. His God is near him, filling the horizon of his vision, leading the way of his life, and furnishing the theme of his meditation. What vanities we should avoid, what sins we should overcome, what virtues we should exhibit, what joys we should experience if we did indeed set the Lord always before us! Why not? This is the way to be safe. The Lord being ever in our minds, we come to feel safety and certainty because of His being so near. He is at our right hand to guide and aid us; and hence we are not moved by fear, nor force, nor fraud, nor fickleness. When God stands at a man's right hand, that man is himself sure to stand. Come on, then, ye foemen of the truth! Rush against me like a furious tempest, if ye will. God upholds me. God abides with me. Whom shall I fear?" Faith's Checkbook by C.H. Spurgeon. The Christian is blessed with the assurance of God's strength to help in the midst of the struggles of life.
Psalm 42:1-3 (NASB) 1 As the deer pants for the water brooks, So my soul pants for You, O God. 2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God; When shall I come and appear before God? 3 My tears have been my food day and night, While they say to me all day long, "Where is your God?" This Psalm and others like it are a tremendous resource for Bible believers. Here we see the truth about life when things are tough. We hear the Psalmist cry out to God, we hear him express his fear, his doubt, his painful realization that others may see him as being abandoned by God. Yet, we hear the expression of his faith from the outset. His is a faith that transcends trouble. This is the faith with which we have to do as Christians. The resource we find here is that the Bible reveals God to us in the context of real people struggling through real life issues, real life pain, real life questions. Here is tremendous help for people who have symptoms of depression and anxiety. The Psalmist shows us here that he looks solely to God and to the assembly of God’s people as the source of his hope and strength. Please read the following commentary written by C. H. Spurgeon. “It is the cry of a man far removed from the outward ordinances and worship of God, sighing for the long loved house of his God; and at the same time it is the voice of a spiritual believer, under depressions, longing for the renewal of the divine presence, struggling with doubts and fears, but yet holding his ground by faith in the living God. Most of the Lord's family have sailed on the sea which is here so graphically described. “My soul. All my nature, my inmost self. Thirsteth. This is more than hungering; hunger you can palliate, but thirst is awful, insatiable, clamorous, deadly. O to have the most intense craving after the highest good! this is no questionable mark of grace. For God. Not merely for the temple and the ordinances, but for fellowship with God himself. None but spiritual men can sympathise with this thirst. For the living God. Because he lives, and gives to men the living water; therefore we, with greater eagerness, desire him” “… the ever living God, the perennial fountain of life and light and love, is our soul's desire. What are gold, honour, pleasure, but dead idols? May we never pant for these. When shall I come and appear before God? He who loves the Lord loves also the assemblies wherein his name is adored. David was never so much at home as in the house of the Lord; he was not content with private worship; he did not forsake the place where saints assemble, as the manner of some is. See how pathetically he questions as to the prospect of his again uniting in the joyous gathering!” The Treasury of David by C. H. Spurgeon
Psalm 32:4-7 (NASB) 4 For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me; My vitality was drained away as with the fever heat of summer. Selah. 5 I acknowledged my sin to You, And my iniquity I did not hide; I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the LORD"; And You forgave the guilt of my sin. Selah. 6 Therefore, let everyone who is godly pray to You in a time when You may be found; Surely in a flood of great waters they will not reach him. 7 You are my hiding place; You preserve me from trouble; You surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah. The virtues of being surrounded with “songs of deliverance” are best understood in the context of experiencing the “heavy” hand of the Lord which in turn leads believers into genuine, heart felt confession. This ultimately produces the “peaceful fruit of righteousness” referred to by the writer of Hebrews in chapter 12. Good mental health sometimes involves gut level honesty before God which precedes the freedom and relief of “songs of deliverance”. This is a great resource for people who struggle with symptoms of depression and anxiety. Please read Spurgeon’s comments on this passage. “Thou art my hiding place. Terse, short sentences make up this verse, but they contain a world of meaning. Personal claims upon our God are the joy of spiritual life. To lay our hand upon the Lord with the clasp of a personal "my" is delight at its full. Observe that the same man who in the fourth verse was oppressed by the presence of God, here finds a shelter in him. See what honest confession and full forgiveness will do! The gospel of substitution makes him to be our refuge who otherwise would have been our judge. Thou shalt preserve me from trouble. Trouble shall do me no real harm when the Lord is with me, rather it shall bring me much benefit, like the file which clears away the rust, but does not destroy the metal. Observe the three tenses, we have noticed the sorrowful past, the last sentence was a joyful present, this is a cheerful future. Thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance. What a golden sentence! The man is encircled in song, surrounded by dancing mercies, all of them proclaiming the triumphs of grace. There is no breach in the circle, it completely rings him round; on all sides he hears music. Before him hope sounds the cymbals, and behind him gratitude beats the timbrel. Right and left, above and beneath, the air resounds with joy, and all this for the very man who, a few weeks ago, was roaring all the day long. How great a change! What wonders grace has done and still can do! Selah. There was a need of a pause, for love so amazing needs to be pondered, and joy so great demands quiet contemplation, since language fails to express it.” The Treasury of David What a tremendous resource here for the follower of Christ. There is great freedom and blessing in coming to our God with absolute honesty in times of crisis and failure and receiving his mercy and grace as resting in the strength of being "surrounded by songs of deliverance".
God's compassion and his covenant of peace will forever stand no matter what afflictions we may face on this earth.
God promises to meet the need for those who seek after him and his righteousness.
The peace of God for mental health.
Renewal of strength for good mental health.
God's prescription for good mental health.