Winning Against Depression
We’ve all seen it in our churches. We walk in on Sunday morning looking our best with our “praise the Lord” faces on. When asked “How are you, sister (or brother)?” we reply with the canned, religious answer, “Wonderful, blessed, and highly favored.” We would not dare say how we are really feeling because depression has been a taboo topic. There is a stigma, especially in churches, that if you are depressed, there is something wrong with you, with your faith, that you fall short in some way. It has even been suggested that depression can be a result of unthankfulness, immaturity, or a lack of trust in God. At the worst is the opinion that depression is craziness or just plain sin.
With attitudes like this, I am not surprised that most saints who are suffering try to hide it. This kind of thought process does nothing to create a safe, nurturing atmosphere for our dear brothers and sisters who so desperately need it. Depression is real and if we think it is not in our church then we are kidding ourselves. Statistics show that one out of five people experience depression at some level and twice as many women than men suffer.
This is huge and we cannot continue ignoring the problem. The enemy of our soul would love for this to continue and keep these precious people in bondage. Condemnation is one of his greatest tools and he is skilled with it in the area of depression. I think we can catch him at his game and start turning the tides. If we can understand what depression is NOT, then we can begin to remove the stigma, guilt, and condemnation that I believe are the greatest contributors and perpetuators of the condition.
When I was suffering from severe depression, I longed for nothing more than for someone to understand my pain and not treat me like I was crazy. I would cry out to Jesus but the nagging voices were there with the lying accusations. The more the enemy whispered to me, the worse I felt, and the deeper the pit became. I needed support from my God family.
I am so thankful that God, in His great love for me, heard me in my pit and showed me how to climb out. My heart desires to share this with as many as possible- showing God's wonderful freedom. Jesus died to give us this.
The enemy was using my past and my failures to torment me mentally. He has come to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10) but Jesus has come to bring life. It was a big help to know the source. Realizing that it was all lies, intimidation, and bullying helped me to stand up and shout, NO!
Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. James 4:7 NKJV
As I searched God's word, planting it purposefully in my heart, I realized I was not crazy, unthankful, or in sin, but in a spiritual battle just as we all face. Life can be very hard in this fallen world. This realization began to remove the stigma and start the healing process. Jesus said that knowing the truth would set you free ( John 8:32) and it will. I stopped believing the enemy's lies, and instead, believed what God said about me.
One of the greatest things that helped me heal was seeing Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. The Bible tells us that Jesus is a high priest touched by our feelings and infirmities. He understands us.
For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Hebrews 4:15 NKJV
He is despised and rejected by men,
A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.
And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him;
He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. Isaiah 53:3NKJV
We are not accustomed to looking at Jesus in the area of depression, and it almost seems wrong, but the Bible is very clear. Because of what Jesus was about to face, He was in complete mental agony to the point where His sweat was described as drops of blood. We see in Matthew 26:38 that Jesus was so full of sorrow in His heart that He felt like He was dying. The word for sorrow in the original Greek is Strongs Concordance # 4036, perilupos which means to be completely surrounded by intense sadness.
It is just my opinion, but I think of all the temptations Jesus faced to be our perfect high priest, this was the greatest. I think He feels our pain in this area more than any other. I hope this helps you as much as it helps me. Jesus was sent to heal the brokenhearted (Luke 4:18). He is near to those that have a broken heart (Psalms 34:18 KJV). This word broken is Strongs Concordance # 7665 (Hebrew) Shabar and means to burst, crush, destroy, hurt, quench, and tear. Notice how this definition closely resembles what the devil has come to do.
The enemy crushes, Jesus sets free. When I studied this passage, I did not feel so alone. I felt understood. Jesus' love empowered me to stand up and resist what the enemy was trying to do. I did not have to play his game or by his rules anymore. I am not saying it was easy because it was a daily battle. The enemy does not like to give up his territory but he must bow to those who know their authority.
Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Luke 10:19
Depression often begins with an attack on our mind; a whispered thought. We must understand that thoughts themselves are not sin, only a temptation to sin. It’s what we do with them that counts. This may be news to some of you. Think of thoughts like arrows shot at your mind. You did not ask for it. It just came. Do not let the devil trick you into feeling condemned over one of his thoughts that he threw at you. Simply replace that thought by saying something else. This worked well for me. I recommend saying something from God's word for double power. You will be disagreeing with the enemy (exercising authority) and putting God's word to work in the situation. God's word is a powerful weapon.
I will end this article by encouraging you to participate in one of the greatest things for bringing joy into your life. I refer to this as God's domino effect.
But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel. Psalm 22:3 KJV
You will show me the path of life;
In Your presence is fullness of joy;
At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore. Psalms 16:11Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength. Nehemiah 8:10
The Lord is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the strength of my life;
Of whom shall I be afraid? Psalm27:1
We worship, He inhabits around us, His presence brings joy, that joy is our strength, and His strength in our lives casts away fear. I choose to live like this every day and I encourage you to as well. Live like you have a secret.
Blessings to you, Marion Grace
