WHEN DEPRESSION TRIES TO CONSUME YOU

I read a statement today that simple said, “Sick of crying, tired of trying, yes, I may be smiling, but inside, I am dying!”. That broke my heart, as I was reminded of my own past depression and how it can eat at you and eat at you, until it has eaten away your strength and you have no energy left to fight it; and yes, one can most defiantly feel that way, when depression tries to consume you.

I learned two things about depression in my own life as I struggled through it and found that with God all things truly are possible. The two things that I learned became instrumental tools in helping me to overcome it then and to fight off any depression and gloom that has come my way since. First I learned that depression is a physical, mental, spiritual, and emotional response to something that is wrong. Second was that the key to getting better, is to find out what that something is and work on it. There are no easy answers, but for the most part it is multifaceted and you must search for the triggers that send you into those gloomy moments that often times can turn into hours or even days. Whatever the cause, depression can be devastating and impacts our whole person, as well as those we love. Sometimes depression can cause a distrust in God that will even make the situation worse in respect to our faith. God never leaves us helpless and hopeless, but it will always be up to us to choose hope that brings us life. John 10:10 says that Jesus came that we “might have life, and might have it abundantly”. Depression is most certainly not, abundant living. Any time or anything that can take away our peace, the enemy is glad to help out and heap on us untruths and anxieties on the negative side of our situation.

 

By taking some time through prayer and the right kind of soul searching, you can decipher what your depression is trying to tell you. Once you learn what triggers your gloom and depression you can use those skills to recognize future bouts and more quickly identify the problem and make you less vulnerable to depressive episodes. For the most part, the word depression is a generic word that we use to describe how we feel when we are down in the dumps, under a lot of stress, sad or have been hurt. For most of us, we move through those bouts rather quickly because we are convinced that it will pass and we will change our direction and way that we view our sadness. But for many, especially those of a melancholy temperament like myself, we can tend to move slower and may even need extra help in getting through a rough time during those bouts. Depression can manifest itself in many ways. We can feel the effects of it in a physical, emotional, mental, or spiritual form. Each form causing different symptoms. The key is to know that we are not alone and that we must work through it and not soak in the sadness of that which we may not be able to change or control. Millions of people battle depression at some point and find that there is victory as they look ahead and stay out of the past.

 

When a person is born again, God takes up residence within them. He brings with Him the promise of a greater joy and peace than they have ever known. But they must choose to walk in it. Many people of faith have experienced periods of deep depression. Even the Bible tells us of some of them like Moses, David and so many others. These truths are worthy and meant to show us how God's love continues even during the sad times in our lives and that He will eventually bring great hope to those who place their hope and trust in Him. In the Garden, Jesus Himself grieved over the most horrific sadness that anyone could, nor would ever experience. Yet, His saddens was lifted when He said to the father, not My will but Yours be done.

 

Sometimes it is just a matter of moving through the sadness agreeing with God that while you may not understand it or want it, you will accept it in humility and long to learn from it. Hebrews 12 tells us to endure hardships as discipline. While our sadness may or may not have been brought on by our own actions, never the less, we are to view them according to verse 7 that way, and verse 11 tells us that no discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on the scriptures says, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace by those who are trained by it. I think that we often look over the part about, “being trained by our hard times”. Hebrews 12:12-13 concludes with instructions to strengthen our feeble arms and weak knees, making level our paths, so that we may not be disabled, but healed. Somewhere in the instructions of verses 12 and 13 we fail to practice that which would help us tremendously in overcoming our sadness and depressions. May I encourage you today sweet friend to get your Bible out and sit down and study those verses, meditate on what God may be trying to reveal to you and call you out of and He will come to your rescue in due time, that is the first step.  The second step is to work on that which you may need to deal with. Your faith will lead you to God, but you must put your trust in Him and leave the details at His feet.

Loving on you today,

Bren