Depression
Most of us, at one point or another, have dealt with depression. I refuse to make light of something that can have such tragic effects. According to Medicinenet.com, as many as one in ten people will suffer a depressive disorder in their lives. There are times in life where we are dealing with circumstances and situations that could leave us fighting with depression. I know depression has greatly impacted my family throughout my life.
I found myself dealing with it often the last several years. There were some battles that I didn't know how to get through. There were times when I felt lost and overwhelmed. I wondered where God was, and if He heard my cry to Him.
I understand fighting depression. I DON'T understand accepting it as a way of life.
Before I get arguments from those that have been significantly impacted in life by depression, in their own battles or through the battle of a loved one, I want to state unequivocally that there are medical and biological causes at times for depression. I hold the opinion that depression or mental disorders caused by chemical imbalances or brain injuries should hold no stigma. I have two type-one diabetic daughters. Their bodies don't produce insulin. Without daily insulin they would die. It's not their fault. So, if someone is not making the chemicals in their brain that is needed to function properly, then by all means, do EVERYTHING you can to be healthy. To me, that is no different than a diabetic taking insulin. Take medicine, learn coping techniques, learn to control your thoughts, and get treatment. It's ridiculous to suffer for years without being treated because of a stigma. It's unfair to you, and it is unfair to your loved ones. (And, as a side note, stop eating low-fat diets. Your brain needs fat. Without it, you will become depressed.)
Some of you are in counseling, but not improving. In many cases, you have accepted depression as a way of life. Find a counselor that will treat you by Biblical standards. And understand that depression is not what God wants for your life.
Some of you are in counseling, but not improving. In many cases, you have accepted depression as a way of life. Find a counselor that will treat you by Biblical standards. And understand that depression is not what God wants for your life.
Whether you have a concrete medical issue or not that could be causing your depression, BATTLE. Don't settle. Don't live your life believing that you are just a depressed person. Don't tell yourself and others that this is who you are. Battle.... Fight... Determine to LIVE WITH JOY!
I know that many are thinking and saying, "You aren't in my shoes. You have no idea how hard it is. You don't understand." I'm sure there are those out there believing me to be an insensitive jerk.
I am going to make a confession on here that is difficult. I am no stranger to depression. Depression, discouragement, anger, rejection... All these things have had a tendency to plague me if I let them. Depression has run in my family, and the toll it takes is tremendous. The tough years and difficult circumstances I've lived through have made those battles more intense. There was a time that I struggled to get out of bed. A bunch of situations overwhelmed me, leaving me physically drained, emotionally wrecked, and spiritually struggling. I do understand. I do know that it isn't easy. I would love to say that I handled that time in my life with grace and rebounded like a NBA basketball player. I didn't. It took time. God had to teach me lessons that I am still applying today, years later.
I am going to make a confession on here that is difficult. I am no stranger to depression. Depression, discouragement, anger, rejection... All these things have had a tendency to plague me if I let them. Depression has run in my family, and the toll it takes is tremendous. The tough years and difficult circumstances I've lived through have made those battles more intense. There was a time that I struggled to get out of bed. A bunch of situations overwhelmed me, leaving me physically drained, emotionally wrecked, and spiritually struggling. I do understand. I do know that it isn't easy. I would love to say that I handled that time in my life with grace and rebounded like a NBA basketball player. I didn't. It took time. God had to teach me lessons that I am still applying today, years later.
Being a Christian, I was not eager to talk about my struggles with depression. After all, with Christ, I shouldn't have these problems, right? I should just give all my problems and emotional battles to the Lord and be instantly cheery... or so I thought others would believe. Maybe some do. Maybe some Christians easily live their lives with a trust in the Lord that I had to develop and am still developing.
Over the years I have heard sermons and teachings on controlling my thought life, focusing on the positive, speaking words that build up. I saw it taken too far, making some Christians look phoney and a bit cheesy. I could see merit in some of it, but I didn't apply it much. I struggled with many of the teachings because it seemed humanistic. I thought that many of the teachings about being a positive, look at the bright side, the glass is half-full type of person came from a "prosperity" mindset that was an altered version of the American Dream. I had a tough time correlating that "God gives you favor to have a ton of money and find great parking spaces" belief with what the Christians in China or Iraq are facing. I had seen that mentality leave some Christians disappointed and upset with God when they didn't end up financially prosperous, or healed of diseases that they believed God should have taken from their bodies. Having others tell them that they must have secret sin in their lives or don't have enough faith only made matters worse.
So, I threw out the entire teaching. I felt powerless. I felt rejected by God. What I didn't do was what I should have done in the first place... research the Bible for myself in this area.
Over the years I have heard sermons and teachings on controlling my thought life, focusing on the positive, speaking words that build up. I saw it taken too far, making some Christians look phoney and a bit cheesy. I could see merit in some of it, but I didn't apply it much. I struggled with many of the teachings because it seemed humanistic. I thought that many of the teachings about being a positive, look at the bright side, the glass is half-full type of person came from a "prosperity" mindset that was an altered version of the American Dream. I had a tough time correlating that "God gives you favor to have a ton of money and find great parking spaces" belief with what the Christians in China or Iraq are facing. I had seen that mentality leave some Christians disappointed and upset with God when they didn't end up financially prosperous, or healed of diseases that they believed God should have taken from their bodies. Having others tell them that they must have secret sin in their lives or don't have enough faith only made matters worse.
So, I threw out the entire teaching. I felt powerless. I felt rejected by God. What I didn't do was what I should have done in the first place... research the Bible for myself in this area.
I was wrong.
I've discovered that having a positive attitude crosses denominational lines. It crosses cultural and country barriers. Having a positive outlook on life even crosses the science versus religion lines. Awhile back God told me to research, in-depth, what it means to be positive, to have joy, to live a life God wants me to live. I began this while losing nearly every material possession my husband and I worked for years to acquire. I remembered the joy of my Grandmother. She had rarely been financially rich. She had dealt with many tough times. And yet, I remember her as such a joy-filled lady with a deep love for the Lord.
It turns out, my Grandma was correct. Her sweet nature and positive spirit touched nearly everyone she met. She lived out her faith in such a way that, despite her imperfections and flaws, she is still inspiring others two years after her death. Why was her faith different?
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| I have this photo as a screensaver on my phone to remind me to be joyful. |
I began to hear stories of Christians in other parts of the world, parts that are known for persecution of believers in Christ, by missionaries and pastors that visited. They would talk about how joyful these Christians in other places were, despite the persecution and, in many cases, living in poverty. I began to read about how those facing persecution take literally the words of Matthew 5:10-12.
- According to the Mayo Clinic, Health benefits that positive thinking may provide include:
I once again paid attention to some of those "positive" Bible teachers. I looked for ones that had depth, not just feel good stories with a few Scriptures here or there. Across denominational lines I discovered many teachers that talked about overcoming depression. Many gave personal testimonies of how they battled their own depression. Whether they were encouraging us to Get out of that Pit, to Never Give Up, to Understand Your True Measure, to find the Source of My Strength, or to Love God with All Your Mind; some of the basic principles were the same. Prayer, Worship, Meditating on Scripture, memorizing Scripture, purposely thinking positively, casting down the thoughts that we KNOW Christ wouldn't want us entertaining in our brains... these are the practices Christians use to live positive, faith-filled lives.
It is estimated that ten thousand thoughts pass through the human mind every day. How many of those thoughts agree with the Word of God? How many are true? How many are admirable? How many are honorable? How many are right? How many are pure or lovely? How many of those thoughts directly impact your peace, your joy, your contentment? How many upset you? How many make you angry? How many do you linger over, rehashing over and over in your brain? It's much easier to rehash the hurtful things we have gone through than to rehash the good.
I know that it is much more difficult to overcome hurts, to forgive offenses, to maintain our peace, if we are replaying the situations and hurtful times over and over in our brains. It doesn't take any effort to see the scene in our minds, like a movie, of that time we were rejected or cheated or lied to or abused or even offended. Those scenes are connected to our emotions, and we can easily replay them over and over, increasing our hurt, our despair, our anger, and our depression. Physically, the effects of unforgiveness are well documented.
- The resulting stress (from unforgiveness) on the body mimics amphetamine intake, raising blood pressure, speeding heartrate, and depressing the body’s immune response in order to focus on the threat of the moment. Over time, these responses cause negative health effects in the body, as these natural responses exist for too long when unforgiveness lingers. As a result, those harboring grudges experience increased risks of heart disease, cancer, and stroke.
- Emotional stress and anger trigger the release of stress hormone cortisol in the body. Small releases of cortisol can give the body a quick burst of energy. However, higher and more prolonged increases can bringinto the body a host of negative effects. It can create a blood sugar imbalance; it can decrease bone density, suppress the body's immune response and make it susceptible to chronic inflammation; it can suppress thyroid function, slowing down the body's metabolism; it can impair the brain's thinking ability and increase blood pressure.
I asked myself not long ago, as I was reading some of this research, if this is what I want for my life? Most of us would say, "No way!" And yet, despite what should be obvious, we still make decisions that are detrimental. We live accepting depression. We live angry. We live upset. We live harboring grudges or reliving bitterness. We make daily decisions to accept these things, out of hurt or ignorance or just plain ole stubbornness and pride. At times it may be unintentional. But often we do these things, knowing it is wrong, but believing that we have a "right" to hold onto toxic emotions.
My grandmother could see the best in anyone. She knew that there were situations and people that were far from Godly, but she had an amazing ability to trust God, even in those tough times and with those difficult people. She wasn't one to dwell on the negative. For most of her life, she was out and about. She honestly felt that, if you didn't feel well, you should get up and make the best of your day. Now, obviously, there were times sickness kept her down. But, if she could possibly do so, she didn't want to be sitting around, feeling blue. She would walk to the stores as a senior citizen if the weather was nice. She loved having family around. She loved playing games. She was artistic, could sew, paint, and make the BEST food. She had grown up in the Great Depression, and had learned that keeping a good attitude in the tough times made them not so tough.
Depression touches many lives, even among Christians. I write this, knowing that I will face all the things and more that could leave me battling depression, anger, or bitterness. I know I will face it, and will have to make choices on whether to hold onto the pains or to release them to the Lord. I know I will battle, because this is one of Satan's favorite tools. And yet I know that I have weapons to fight. I have the Armor of God to use as a weapon. I have the Word of God, which is the Sword of the Spirit, to use to renew my mind. I don't have to live as a victim of depression. I can battle. I can live with peace and joy.
So can you.
I pray that, if you see this as an area where you need help, that you will seriously pray and consider that God has more for you than a life filled with depression.
Matthew 5:10-12New Living Translation (NLT)
God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right,
for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.
for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.
God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are my followers. Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, the ancient prophets were persecuted in the same way.
This joy can only come from Christ. This perspective can only come from Christ and His Word.
I looked into what the Bible said, apart from any formal Bible teachers. Immediately there was an avalanche of verses. Here are a few:
And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. - Philippians 4:8
A cheerful heart is good medicine,
but a broken spirit saps a person’s strength. Proverbs 17:22
but a broken spirit saps a person’s strength. Proverbs 17:22
It’s not what goes into your mouth that defiles you; you are defiled by the words that come out of your mouth. Matthew 15:11
Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Romans 12:12
Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
I began reading medical and psychological work by secular experts. I love proving that the Bible is correct. As I had been researching what the Bible said, I wanted to see if the "experts"agreed.
- According to the Mayo Clinic, Health benefits that positive thinking may provide include:
- Increased life span
- Lower rates of depression
- Lower levels of distress
- Greater resistance to the common cold
- Better psychological and physical well-being
- Reduced risk of death from cardiovascular disease
- Better coping skills during hardships and times of stress
I once again paid attention to some of those "positive" Bible teachers. I looked for ones that had depth, not just feel good stories with a few Scriptures here or there. Across denominational lines I discovered many teachers that talked about overcoming depression. Many gave personal testimonies of how they battled their own depression. Whether they were encouraging us to Get out of that Pit, to Never Give Up, to Understand Your True Measure, to find the Source of My Strength, or to Love God with All Your Mind; some of the basic principles were the same. Prayer, Worship, Meditating on Scripture, memorizing Scripture, purposely thinking positively, casting down the thoughts that we KNOW Christ wouldn't want us entertaining in our brains... these are the practices Christians use to live positive, faith-filled lives.
It is estimated that ten thousand thoughts pass through the human mind every day. How many of those thoughts agree with the Word of God? How many are true? How many are admirable? How many are honorable? How many are right? How many are pure or lovely? How many of those thoughts directly impact your peace, your joy, your contentment? How many upset you? How many make you angry? How many do you linger over, rehashing over and over in your brain? It's much easier to rehash the hurtful things we have gone through than to rehash the good.
I know that it is much more difficult to overcome hurts, to forgive offenses, to maintain our peace, if we are replaying the situations and hurtful times over and over in our brains. It doesn't take any effort to see the scene in our minds, like a movie, of that time we were rejected or cheated or lied to or abused or even offended. Those scenes are connected to our emotions, and we can easily replay them over and over, increasing our hurt, our despair, our anger, and our depression. Physically, the effects of unforgiveness are well documented.
- The resulting stress (from unforgiveness) on the body mimics amphetamine intake, raising blood pressure, speeding heartrate, and depressing the body’s immune response in order to focus on the threat of the moment. Over time, these responses cause negative health effects in the body, as these natural responses exist for too long when unforgiveness lingers. As a result, those harboring grudges experience increased risks of heart disease, cancer, and stroke.
- Emotional stress and anger trigger the release of stress hormone cortisol in the body. Small releases of cortisol can give the body a quick burst of energy. However, higher and more prolonged increases can bringinto the body a host of negative effects. It can create a blood sugar imbalance; it can decrease bone density, suppress the body's immune response and make it susceptible to chronic inflammation; it can suppress thyroid function, slowing down the body's metabolism; it can impair the brain's thinking ability and increase blood pressure.
I asked myself not long ago, as I was reading some of this research, if this is what I want for my life? Most of us would say, "No way!" And yet, despite what should be obvious, we still make decisions that are detrimental. We live accepting depression. We live angry. We live upset. We live harboring grudges or reliving bitterness. We make daily decisions to accept these things, out of hurt or ignorance or just plain ole stubbornness and pride. At times it may be unintentional. But often we do these things, knowing it is wrong, but believing that we have a "right" to hold onto toxic emotions.
My grandmother could see the best in anyone. She knew that there were situations and people that were far from Godly, but she had an amazing ability to trust God, even in those tough times and with those difficult people. She wasn't one to dwell on the negative. For most of her life, she was out and about. She honestly felt that, if you didn't feel well, you should get up and make the best of your day. Now, obviously, there were times sickness kept her down. But, if she could possibly do so, she didn't want to be sitting around, feeling blue. She would walk to the stores as a senior citizen if the weather was nice. She loved having family around. She loved playing games. She was artistic, could sew, paint, and make the BEST food. She had grown up in the Great Depression, and had learned that keeping a good attitude in the tough times made them not so tough.
Depression touches many lives, even among Christians. I write this, knowing that I will face all the things and more that could leave me battling depression, anger, or bitterness. I know I will face it, and will have to make choices on whether to hold onto the pains or to release them to the Lord. I know I will battle, because this is one of Satan's favorite tools. And yet I know that I have weapons to fight. I have the Armor of God to use as a weapon. I have the Word of God, which is the Sword of the Spirit, to use to renew my mind. I don't have to live as a victim of depression. I can battle. I can live with peace and joy.
So can you.
I pray that, if you see this as an area where you need help, that you will seriously pray and consider that God has more for you than a life filled with depression.
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