Antidote to Gloom

I have been focused on two verses to day found in Isaiah 58: 10-11:
And if you give yourself to the hungry
And satisfy the desire of the afflicted,
Then your light will rise in darkness
And your gloom will become like midday.
¹¹ “And the Lord will continually guide you,
And satisfy your desire in scorched places,
And give strength to your bones;
And you will be like a watered garden,
And like a spring of water whose waters do not fail.

The prescription for  gloom is to focus and meet the needs of others.  We are not to merely look out for our own personal interests but the interests of others it states in Philippians 2: 3-4.  Depression and gloom often have a self absorption component.  God intends for us to perform acts of mercy and kindness.  It reflects the Savior we serve.  When we live for others we end up being like springs of water whose water never fail.  We refresh others and are ourselves refreshed.

When we live for ourselves we flounder and sometimes end up in deep despair. When we pour out our lives for others, we are full and joyous.  It is very easy to slowly give in to a selfish approach to life. It is our default position. But God says that small mindedness and a self serving life ends badly.  As we turn away from us and turn our attention to the others, gloom lifts little by little. The fresh water of God's grace fills us with joy and we bubble over joyously in the lives of others.