By Patty LaRoche

Christian author Vivian Bricker wrote about her struggle with “anhedonia,” a condition prescribed for one who lacks motivation, becomes indifferent to the world and struggles to cultivate any sort of happiness. Its victims feel only emptiness. Bricker referred to her condition as “hitting a wall.” Her solace came only when she spent time with dogs. She compared humans to dogs and felt that although people are capable of unconditional love, most are quick to reject a friend when they feel betrayed or abandoned. Dogs, however, love unconditionally. Bricker never “hit a wall” when she was with a dog.

An individual in scripture knew what it was like to suffer from anhedonia. Asaph, a writer of twelve of the Psalms, finds himself in a bad place. Note some things he says about his circumstance in Chapter 77:

Verse 2—He could not be comforted.
Verse 3—His spirit was overwhelmed.
Verse 4—He could not sleep.
Verse 6—His soul-searching was pointless.
Verse 7-9—He questioned what he knew to be true about God.

Can you relate? Asaph is miserable, depressed. But then, in Verse 12-14, he redirects his thoughts. He decides to focus on the wonders of God, the miracles He performs and the holiness of the Creator. Verse 14 reminds us on where to concentrate: “You are the God who does wonders…”

In Hebrews, Paul tells us that Jesus did just that, enduring the cross “for the joy set before him.” He looked forward to the time when he would sit at the right hand of God, and Paul instructs us to do likewise “so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”

This past month I spoke at a women’s retreat and shared my recollection of a story Steve, a friend, once told. An avid Notre Dame fan, Steve would video the football game and look forward to sitting in his favorite chair to watch it. One Saturday afternoon, his father-in-law mentioned to Steve how Notre Dame had beaten Michigan 3-0. Steve said that his day was ruined. He could never enjoy a game when he knew the outcome.

But then a strange thing happened. He opted to watch it anyway, and he enjoyed every second of it. When Michigan was on the one-yard line, Steve was not concerned. He knew the outcome. Fumbles and interceptions caused him no concern. His team would prevail.

Steve shared that the football game was a metaphor for eternity. Jesus would win. Satan would lose, so we should live every day, knowing—and celebrating—the outcome. There was no need to sweat the small stuff.

Asaph seems to come to that conclusion in Psalms. God has done wondrous things. The message for us is straight-forward. When things seem overwhelming and we feel forsaken, the answer is not a dog (although my dog-lover friends might disagree). The answer is to recall all the miraculous things God has done in our lives and focus on what eternal things lie ahead.