Victory over Depression
Depression is commonly distinguished from discouragement in that, when you feel depressed, you simply give up the will to try any further. Sometimes it is giving up even the will to live. Discouragement is the feeling of giving up.
Depression actually has a number of causes: biological (genetics, body chemistry, and one’s general health); psychological (how we tend to think about things); sociological (death of a loved one, divorce, loss of a job); and, of course, spiritual.
There are a number of men in the Bible who were discouraged and, it could be argued, even depressed: Elijah, Job, Jeremiah. Some of these men even wished they had never been born. David, feeling the weight of his sin with Bathsheba and murder of Uriah, cried that he was a sinner from the day he was born (Psalm 51).
The feeling of depression is not necessarily sinful. This means that trying to become a stronger Christian will not necessary alleviate the feelings of depression. It is not a moral weakness to feel depressed. It may be a human weakness but not necessarily a moral weakness. It is not always a sentiment in your mind but it is also not always genetically based.
So, how can you experience victory over depression? Fundamentally, it will depend on what causes the feelings of depression. If it is biological, medication may very well be a solution. If we were ill physically, we would not doubt the power of medication. In our society, we have gone to the extreme and become an over-medicated society. Yet, that should not keep some from using medication if honest examinations suggest the cause is chemical imbalance.
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If the cause of the depression is psychological, we need to learn to talk back to ourselves. To replace “stinkin’ thinkin’” with positive, faith-based, thoughts. We may need to develop a plan with activities that will help us feel a sense of success and accomplishment. When we feel like we are losers, we should talk back to those negative feelings and remind ourselves that, in Christ, we are winners.
If the cause is sociological, we can do what we are able to change those factors that are causing the stress. We can work to improve our marriages, for example. We can work to improve our relationships with our children. We can lower our stress level by changing how we live our lives.
Finally, if the cause of depression is spiritual, we need to find our fulfillment in Christ, not in the empty spiritual options pursued by the world. Jesus wants us to live an abundant life (John 10:10). Each of us needs to see ourselves as a spiritual being, accountable to God, on the one hand, and blessed by God on the other. We need to utilize the spiritual resources God has given us: Bible study, prayer, Christian service, the fellowship and encouragement of faithful Christians. We may also need to remind ourselves that God has called us to a higher, spiritual calling.
Depression may very well be something you struggle with the rest of your life. May you find grace from God to help in time of need.
–Paul Holland
