查爾斯患有憂鬱症，儘管他有一個愛他的家庭，他還是覺得非常孤獨。他說：「撐起這個家的沉重壓力讓我不堪負荷，我甚至想要結束自己的生命。」或許這會令有些人感到驚訝，因為查爾斯是一個基督教事工的領袖。

一位睿智的朋友告訴他，在陷入憂鬱時，應當好好閱讀詩篇，讓自己沉浸在其中。於是，查爾斯藉著細讀那些令他深有同感的詩篇，接受適當的醫療照護，並向上帝傾心吐意，最終漸漸走出了絕望的低谷。

詩篇的描述往往十分直白，而以斯拉人希幔寫的一首詩尤為苦澀，只在開頭幾句帶著盼望：「耶和華，拯救我的上帝啊」（88篇1節）。隨後，他似乎控訴上帝：「祢把我放在極深的坑裡」（6節），「祢的憤怒重壓我身」（7節），他甚至質疑：「耶和華啊，祢為何丟棄我？為何掩面不顧我？」（14節）大多數詩篇的結尾都帶著盼望，但這首詩卻並非如此。最後希幔說：「黑暗成了我的知己」（18節，新譯本）。這是希幔在極度絕望中的禱告，但他仍向上帝傾訴他所有的痛苦。

讀到這樣的一首詩，我們會發現自己的痛苦並非獨一無二，別人也曾感到絕望，但卻勇敢地吐露心聲。上帝接納希幔的傾訴，也必如此待你。上帝正等著聽你傾訴心聲。

Charles had sunk into depression. Despite having a loving family, he felt all alone. “The overwhelming pressure of supporting them was continuing to build,” he said, “and I felt like taking my own life.” Surprisingly—or perhaps not—Charles Morris also led a Christian ministry.

A wise friend told him that when faced with depression, “We should soak in the Psalms.” Charles got through his deep despondency by reading relatable Bible passages, accepting prudent medical care, and pouring his heart out to God.

The Psalms are often brutally honest. Heman the Ezrahite wrote one of the most bitter. Hope is found only in the opening lines: “Lord, you are the God who saves me” (88:1). Heman seems to accuse God: “You have put me in the lowest pit” (v. 6). “You have overwhelmed me” (v. 7). And he had questions: “Why, Lord, do you reject me and hide your face from me?” (v. 14). Most psalms end with a message of hope. Not this one. Heman concludes, “Darkness is my closest friend” (v. 18). This is the prayer of a truly desperate man. Yet Heman directed all his pain to God.

When we read psalms such as this one, we realize we’re not alone. Others have experienced desperate feelings and have dared to put voice to them. God could take such honesty from Heman. He can take it from you too. He’s there, and He’s listening.