Depression

Day 1

Depression

Hello. This journey has been so awesome and I thank you for sharing in it with us. This week, I had a few words come to mind, but really wanted to see what God had planned for us and I believe this word was the one that I needed to share with you. Again, I learned many things from this study and hope that you are blessed by this word. When preparing this devotional, it did come to mind that we are all at different stages in our lives and that each and every one of us deals with depression in our lives. Maybe we do not suffer from it, but statistics show, we are affected by it. So, even if you do not think you need to read this because it may not pertain to you, this information may prepare you for a moment where God will use you in someones life.

Depression:

Websters Dictionary defines it as : An act of depressing or a state of being depressed: as a: a pressing down : (1): a state of feeling sad : (2): a psycho neurotic or psychotic disorder marked especially by sadness, inactivity, difficulty in thinking and concentration, a significant increase or decrease in appetite and time spent sleeping, feelings of dejection and hopelessness, and sometimes suicidal tendencies c (1): a reduction in activity, amount, quality, or force (2): a lowering of vitality or functional activity

My Bible refers to depression as worry and anxiety, sadness and sorrow. To be weary.

Lets see what it says.

Proverbs 12:25 - 25 Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression, But a good word makes it glad.

Proverbs 10:22

22 The blessing of the LORD makes one rich, And He adds no sorrow with it.

Proverbs 15:13

13 A merry heart makes a cheerful countenance, But by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.

Day 2

What the Bible says about Depression.

The Bible shows that depression often follows great achievements.

Judges 15:18

18 Then he became very thirsty; so he cried out to the LORD and said, “You have given this great deliverance by the hand of Your servant; and now shall I die of thirst and fall into the hand of the uncircumcised?”

Samson was physically and emotionally exhausted. After a great personal victory, his attitude declined quickly into self-pity- "must I now die of thirst?" Emotionally, we are most vulnerable after a great effort or when faced with real physical needs. Don't be surprised if you feel drained after a personal victory. During these times of vulnerability, avoid the temptation to think that God owes you for your efforts. It was his strength that gave you victory. Concentrate on keeping your attitudes, actions and words focused on God instead of yourself.

Depression often follows a spiritual victory.

1 Kings 19:3

3 And when he saw that, he arose and ran for his life, and went to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there.

Elijah experienced the depths of fatigue and discouragement just after his two great spiritual victories: the defeat of the prophets of Baal and the answered prayer for rain. Often discouragement sets in after great spiritual experiences, especially those requiring physical effort or involving great emotion. To lead him out of depression, God first let Elijah rest and eat. Then god confronted him with the need to return to his mission - to speak God's words in Israel. Elijah's battles were not over; there was still work for him to do. When you feel let down after a great spiritual experience, remember that God's purpose for your life is not yet over.

Remember God's Goodness when Depressed

Psalms 42:5-6

5 Why am I discouraged?

Why is my heart so sad?

I will put my hope in God!

I will praise him again—

my Savior and

6 my God!
Now I am deeply discouraged,

but I will remember you—

even from distant Mount Hermon, the source of the Jordan,

from the land of Mount Mizar.

Depression is one of the most common emotional ailments. One antidote for depression is to meditate on the record of God's goodness to his people. This will take your mind off the present situation as you focus your thoughts on God's ability to help you rather than on your inability to help yourself. When you feel depressed, take advantage of this psalm's antidepressant: read the Bible's accounts of God's goodness, and meditate on them.

What Society Says about Depression

At a recent MOPS meeting, I had a chance to learn more about depression and found many interesting facts. Society makes it hard for women to admit to depression. With many moms having to work and play the role of mother, they are often left with no time for their selves, not even enough time to meditate on God's will in their lives. Studies show that increasing levels of physical activity, getting enough sleep, the right diet, having a support system, alone time, enjoyable activities and sex can keep you from being depressed. The Bible goes one step further, reminding us that God is our strength and that He is the one we must call on when we are not feeling up to par. We must find time to call on our Lord and we must be able to speak to those who are weary in their time of need.

Isaiah 50:4

4[The Servant of God says] The Lord God has given Me the tongue of a disciple and of one who is taught, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him who is weary. He wakens Me morning by morning, He wakens My ear to hear as a disciple [as one who is taught].

Matthew 11:28-30

28Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy-laden and overburdened, and I will cause you to rest. [I will ease and relieve and refresh your souls.]
29Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me, for I am gentle (meek) and humble (lowly) in heart, and you will find rest (relief and ease and refreshment and recreation and blessed quiet) for your souls.
30For My yoke is wholesome (useful, good--not harsh, hard, sharp, or pressing, but comfortable, gracious, and pleasant), and My burden is light and easy to be borne.

Day 3

So now is the time to share why I chose this word. I was given three words this week. Deliverance, Depression (or sorrow) and Direction. As I studied the verses about depression, this verse came up. So it was meant to be that those 3 words were used this week.

2 Corinthians 7:9-10

9Now I am glad I sent it, not because it hurt you, but because the pain caused you to repent and change your ways. It was the kind of sorrow God wants his people to have, so you were not harmed by us in any way. 10For godly grief and the pain God is permitted to direct, produce a repentance that leads and contributes to salvation and deliverance from evil, and it never brings regret; but worldly grief (the hopeless sorrow that is characteristic of the pagan world) is deadly [breeding and ending in death].

Do you believe that God will give us grief in order for us to repent and be delivered from evil? Why or why not?

Would you rather turn to God for your source of help in a time of need or to societies remedy, usually a hefty counseling bill, medication and feelings of isolation?

Is it fair to say that society views depression wrong? why or why not?

While I believe that it is always a good idea to get help when needed, could we be hindering people from their repentance, deliverance and salvation as a society?

Are you or someone you know struggling with depression, sorrow or anxiety? How could you share with them that God could be their source for deliverance from their ailment? How could God reveal to you His will concerning your physical, mental and spiritual well being?

After reading this, will you set aside some alone time for your self each day to refresh your spirit and meditate on God's goodness? Why or why not?

Day 4

Psalm 69:29

29 I am suffering and in pain.

Rescue me, O God, by your saving power.

Matthew 26:38

36 Then Jesus went with them to the olive grove called Gethsemane, and he said, “Sit here while I go over there to pray.” 37 He took Peter and Zebedee’s two sons, James and John, and he became anguished and distressed. 38 He told them, “My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.”
39 He went on a little farther and bowed with his face to the ground, praying, “My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.”

Confess any tendency to ignore the signs of depression in your life or in your friends or families lives.

Ask God to help you to see his greatness and will in your life and the lives of others.

Praise God for salvation and that his will is greater than anything we could even imagine. Praise him for those people in your life that you could call on when your soul is crushed with grief to the point of death.

Pray for God to use you in the lives of those who are hopeless and have not yet received the repentance, deliverance and salvation that even we do not deserve. Ask for direction in your life concerning the times of great achievements, spiritual victories and times of sorrow.

Day 5

Revelations 21:4

4God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and death shall be no more, neither shall there be anguish (sorrow and mourning) nor grief nor pain any more, for the old conditions and the former order of things have passed away.

John 16:20

20I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, that you shall weep and grieve, but the world will rejoice. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will be turned into joy.

Praise Friday

Dear Lord, I praise you for your word, which is living and true to this day. I praise you for your deliverance from the depths of darkness. I praise you for the wonderful and loving God that you are. For you have a will that is greater than anything we can even imagine and I pray we will continue to walk down the path that you direct us towards, no matter how hard it may be. I know that we have all experienced some sort of sorrow or depression in our lives and ask that you help us to heal from those experiences to the point that we stand with our hands lifted high, in praise of your great love and mercy in our lives. Mostly Lord, I pray for each person that receives this devotional, Lord, would you give them strength and wisdom to be taught by you, to learn your ways and to be able to share your word in due time with those that will need you, that we may be able to teach those who are lost that only you can deliver them from depression. Amen.