At a dark, discouraging moment in Abraham’s life, God told him to overcome his depression by getting out of his tent, looking up, and trying to count the stars.

God told Abraham to, “‘Look up at the heavens and count the stars—if indeed you can count them.’ And God promised, ‘So shall your offspring be’” (Genesis 15:5).

In one sense, this promise to Abraham was for him alone. He was depressed that he didn’t have a son to inherit his wealth.

But in the truer, spiritual sense, this answer to the frustrations of life, and this promise of a marvelous future is as true for each of us as it was for Abraham 3,500 years ago.

We merely have to leave whatever “tent” is limiting our vision so that we can see the countless “stars” of hope that will fill our future.

During the Pandemic, everyone is experiencing dark, discouraging moments. One way to overcome this depression is the same way that God told Abraham to overcome his depression. Get out of our “tent”, look up, and try to count the stars.

At different times and places, we find ourselves in different “tents”.

During this Pandemic, our “tent” may literally be a tiny apartment where we are cooped up with several children. At other times, our “tent” may be more figurative, such as being stuck in a career that doesn’t satisfy us.

Whatever our dark, discouraging “tent” may be, each of us needs to leave our old way of living by getting out of our “tent”.

Contemplate the heavens that God spoke into existence.

The heavens are inconceivably vaster than Abraham could see. Similarly, the good fruit of each of our lives will be inconceivably vaster than we can foresee.

Such visions of the future give meaning to our lives today.

The key to making such visions a reality is the same for us as for Abraham. We must “believe the LORD” (Genesis 15:6) when he promises that our “offspring”—the good fruit of our life—will be as vast as the heavens.

Such belief frees us from our old way of life in a “tent” so that we can enjoy a new way of life overflowing with the gifts and promises of God—our Good Shepherd. (Psalm 23:1-6).

Such belief empowers us to follow the way of Jesus—our Good Shepherd—so that we enjoy life to the full in this life, and in the life to come. (John 10:10-11).

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I urge anyone with bouts of depression to seek professional help, including appropriate medications. This is especially important in this stressful, discouraging time.  Similarly, you may need to encourage your family and friends to seek professional help.

This blog is based on the section “Abraham Believes God’s Promises” in my book The Promised Land, at pages 30-34.