As we examine the book of Ruth we see several principles emerging that can help us to manage despair during the difficult seasons of our lives. This state of despair, in which people feel they have no hope, is commonly known as depression. Along with feelings of hopelessness people who are depressed may also experience loss of appetite, sleep disturbance, fatigue, feelings of worthlessness, loss of pleasure in daily activities, and trouble concentrating.

WE NEED PEOPLE
Principle number one is "We need people." God created us as social creatures and although our level of sociability varies from person to person - introverts, extroverts and the like - we all need to associate with emotionally healthy people to help us to maintain our own emotionally healthy makeup. However, the depressed person generally has a tendency to withdraw from people. Naomi reacted in this way. She began pulling away from her loved ones, urging them to remain in Moab. She fixed her eyes on her circumstances and she mistakenly put her faith in her feelings. There is no doubt that depression is a state of feeling; but it is not necessarily a state of truth. Though Naomi tried to push Ruth away, Ruth would not take "No" for an answer. She knew what God was calling her to do and it was to remain faithful to Naomi. What Naomi did not know, and had difficulty accepting, was that she needed to be with Ruth. Depressed people are not the best at determining their need for social stimulation, because they feel like withdrawing from everyone. Following your feelings is not necessarily a healthy or wise thing to do.

When a person is depressed, they are in emotional pain. There is just no more energy to perform for others. The effort to put on the happy face for appearances is just too much. Additionally, there may be feelings of shame related to the depression that can also be a hindrance to getting help. Some may contemplate, "what will people think? What about living the victorious Christian life?" We must not let the Devil deceive us into this trap of denial and secrecy, which prevents us from getting the help we need.

ACKNOWLEDGE YOUR FEELINGS
So the second principle is "Acknowledge your feelings." Even though we should be careful about acting on our feelings when we are depressed, that does not mean we should not acknowledge our feelings. Naomi and Ruth were both vocal about their feelings. They not only spoke their feelings to one another, they also gave full expression to their feelings by weeping together. Acknowledging our deepest feelings of hurt, resentment, bitterness and despair is to allow the light of God's truth to shine on these previously hidden parts of ourselves. When a light is shown in those dark and private places one's initial reaction might be fear or of being exposed - "I don't want people to see those private, secret places in my soul, what will they think." "I may not even want to acknowledge them myself." Often people have a sense of feeling weak and ashamed about their private thoughts and feelings. However, when these things are exposed to the light through confession to a trustworthy friend, relative or counselor several things can occur. 1.) If there is a lie embedded in that feeling it can be exposed and dealt with. 2.) The person can be affirmed and validated in their feelings which in turn conveys a deep sense of love and acceptance to them. 3.) Friends will know better how to respond or minister to the person in need. 4.) When the hurting person allows the suppressed feelings to rise to the surface, they can begin to deal with them in a fruitful way. When we suppress and/or deny our feelings it is like garbage sitting at the bottom of our trash can that begins to stink. Leaving our feelings to rot in our soul only causes us to feel worse.

DON'T PUT YOUR FAITH IN YOUR FEELINGS
The third principle is "Don't put your faith in your feelings." God made us as emotional, feeling creatures and depression is very much a condition of feeling. But we learn early on in our Christian walk that we are not to put our faith in our feelings. Yet knowing and applying this principle are two different things. That is where I was when I had my "Naomi moment." I felt that my life had no meaning; I felt that nothing could satisfy me like I imagined children satisfying me. I had been through this before and I had come out on the other side of this lie and experienced victory over it. But this time I found myself languishing like the cripple at the pool of Bethesda. I could see the water of healing, but I could not see anyway to get myself into that pool. Because I was focused on my feelings and not on the truth of God's word and the truth of who God is, I was in anguish. I was without hope. This is why it is so important to unearth our feelings, by lending our voice to them and then exposing them to the light of God's word. To feel that my life had no meaning was very different than the truth, which is written in God's word, and tells me that my life has eternal meaning and purpose (Revelation 21:3-4.) Roman's 15:4 says, "For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope."

Naomi felt like the Lord had made her life very bitter. Indeed she had fixed her eyes on her circumstances and not on her heavenly Father who works all things together for our good and His glory (Romans 8:28, authors translation). Despite her rather depressing circumstances, God used all these things to ultimately restore and reward Naomi and all of Christendom through the offspring of Ruth and Boaz. Naomi was personally restored through the relationships that God brought into her life through Ruth and Boaz and she was also rewarded with a grandson to care for who's lineage ended in the birth of the long awaited Messiah.

SEE GOD'S PROVISION IN HIS PROVIDENCE
The final principle is "Be willing to see God's provision to you through His providence and give praise and thanksgiving to God for His daily provision." God promises to provide for our daily needs, not our wants and desires. And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:19). We need to be vigilant about looking for the ways that God fulfills His word in our lives and then be deliberate about giving thanks to Him (1 Thessalonians 5:18). Naomi was so full of despair and self loathing that she did not pay much mind to the fact that the barley harvest was just beginning as they arrived in Bethlehem. It is also quite likely that she initially saw Ruth's insistence to go back to Bethlehem with her as a nuisance and a burden. It was not until Ruth returned with a tangible expression of God's goodness - an ephah of barley and a regular job gleaning in Boaz's fields - that Naomi began to recognize and give thanks for God's provision and to shed her feelings of despair.

Be vigilant about looking for and acknowledging God's provision to you every day. Keep your eyes fixed on Him and not your circumstances for only God knows how He is weaving you and your circumstances into His wonderful tapestry of eternity. Surely God's compassions are new every morning; great is His faithfulness (Lamentations 3:23).