"The Word" by Isaac Wimberly

Note: This post was written by K.F., a student at FranU, in 2018.

Over 300 million people worldwide suffer with depression. That is enough people to fill up over 2,800 of the United States’ largest stadium. That is equal to almost half the population of the entire European continent.  It just so happens that I fall into that statistic. Depression is a monster, an infection, almost an addiction – it’s so powerful and overwhelming and no matter what I do, I just can’t shake it.  It has the ability to mask even the most beautiful souls. It projects lies to its victim in a way so endearing that it seems we have no choice but to believe them. Quite frankly, depression kills.  It is estimated that of those treated for depression, the death by suicide rate is twice as high as it is for those not diagnosed with depression.  Thankfully, I am now able to manage my depression through therapy; however, I know that not everyone has a success story. There is an available tool that might help – one that I wish I knew about when seeking a way out: poetry.

            My faith in God was (and still is) vital to my recovery. With that being said, poetry might have supplemented my healing process.  A large portion of poetry is considered religious poetry, and many poems of that genre can be considered therapeutic. One poem in particular that I believe has healing properties is The Word by Isaac Wimberly. I first heard this poem when listening to a song by my favorite Christian singer/songwriter.  In the middle of the song, this poem is read aloud by Isaac. The first time I heard it, I burst into tears.  It fostered the idea that I am not alone, and that there is a greater God that can provide my every need. I think this poem has the ability to do that for other readers going through trials of life as well.

            In The Word, Isaac begins by describing his own inferiority and God’s grandeur by repeating the phrase, “If there are words for Him, then, I don’t have them.”  He explains that he doesn’t have the ability to sufficiently describe the goodness and love of God, but that he uses his words “as an expression of worship”. The first eleven lines of the poem focus on the fact that the speaker’s “brain,” “lungs,” and “voice” fall short when it comes to explaining “Him”. Though this may not seem therapeutic, I think it is an interesting tactic to illustrate the contrast between God and man.  This contrast illuminates how amazing God truly is.

            Isaac uses capitalization of certain words to emphasize the importance of them to the speaker: “SAVIOR”; “EXTOLS”; “DEFEATED”; “CONQUERED”.  All of the previously mentioned words hold power in them, giving the reader empowerment as well.  The middle of the poem goes into detail about God’s goodness.  Wimberly wrote:

He has DEFEATED me in my rebellion

CONQUERED me in my sin

He has WELCOMED me into his presence

Completely invited me in.

The above mentioned line is intriguing to me because it states that God has already defeated the evil in the world, so there is no reason to feel bound by its chains.  By this, I was reminded that I am not a slave to depression and mental illness.  There is always a way out.  Though depression may not go away, the depression crises that occasionally occur are only temporary.  When it seems as if the state I am in will last forever, I am reminded that God holds the victory over anything not of Him.  By using such potent words, Isaac allows the reader to feel empowered by what she is reading, so that she feels equipped to continue fighting and/or win the battle with mental illness.

            At the end of the poem, Isaac uses similar phrases as those listed above to explain what God can give to the readers of this poem: “HOPE has a name! JOY has a name! PEACE has a name!”  The conclusion of the poem provides the reader with an answer to a problem that seems like it has no cure.  The very things that I was searching for when attempting to crawl out of depression are listed at the end of the poem. I needed hope that the agony wouldn’t last forever, joy amidst the pain, and peace from my own thoughts.  Wimberly’s words resonated with me because I was reminded that even in the darkest of times, there is a glimmer of light if only I walk towards it.

            In conclusion, The Word by Isaac Wimberley provides hope – hope that pain is temporary. This poem can reach those with depression, or those feeling hopeless and/or in need of encouragement. I think it gives the reader a fresh perspective on whatever issue he may be facing.  Though it may not be a widely accepted and well-known form of therapy, I believe poetry has the ability to heal the mind.  I feel that its healing properties should be explored and considered, even if it is only used as a supplement in traditional therapy.