Deafening silence from God during times of distress can bring even the most of mature Christian to their knees. When these jars of clay start to crack under the pressure cooker of tribulations what is one to do when God refuses to answer one’s cry for mercy? Asaph, one of the three musicians appointed by David for worship, finds himself in this very predicament. All day long and all night he cries out for mercy to no avail. The former days when God’s presence was near and his heart leapt for joy while singing was now only a distant memory that crushed his soul and threw him into a well of depression so deep that there seemed to be no light or way to escape. So he lay on his bed, drowning in his fear that God had broken His promises to always love and show him grace and mercy.

We have all felt like Asaph from time to time. Within God’s loving arms of reassurance dare we say that we can persevere through anything, YES, but in deafening silence can these fragile jars of clay really retain unspeakable joy during tribulations or are they more likely to deeply drink in the seeds of depression? Left without any hope Asaph seeks and finds the way of escape to be found in the very character of God Himself. Overcoming spiritual depression for Asaph and for us is found not in personal prayers of “I want” this or that but in reflection on God’s providence to justly take care of His Creation! Let’s take this exciting journey with Asaph in hope that his path to escape spiritual depression might be the key to all of us feel joy, even in silence!