WTWT Depression Part 2

Walking the Walk Through Depression is all about what to do for someone else if they are suffering. But, what about if it's you? What happens if you are the one who's smiling but who feels the stinging hurt of depression? As a person living an authentic life in Christ what do you do?

Depression, after all, seems ungrateful in our hearts. It makes us feel guilty to be depressed knowing that God has given us a new life. We're supposed to be enjoying it right? So, what of it? Why are we depressed? Why are our souls downcast? We're stuck in muck and mire and can't find a way out. Often we feel there's no help because we can't really discuss the depression due to embarrassment or not wanting to turn into someone's charity case. We also want to be soldiers in God's army. There's no depression allowed in that right? So, what do we do?

In a world where there are millions of distractions...including our own minds, I have to say the good, old-fashioned Word of God is the way out.

The dynamic of depression is this:

1.) Our minds get stuck on a thing we feel powerless to change.
2.) Instead of renewing it with the Word, we allow it to fester so the attitude spreads around to other topics that represent discomfort in our minds.
3.) Since no one's life is perfect it grows into every area of our lives, even the ones that may be going quite well, and continues to erode our perceptions of what's really happening.
4.) Soon evil thoughts have consumed our thought processes to the point that we can't see the way out or find any positive aspects at all.
5.) Hopelessness begets hopelessness and we're on the verge of shutting down.

How do we prevent this cycle? I know the world uses medication. However, that has proven to be controversial in and of itself. Psychotropic / psychiatric / antidepressant drugs have actually caused people to commit homicides and suicides, as well as sink deeper into depression. They also cause a number of side effects that threaten our physical health. Is it safe for Christians to take these drugs? Is it safe for anyone? Well, someone who follows acceptable church norms would probably say no. But, people have to make this decision for themselves. Be sure to count up the cost and pray about it if it's a route you're thinking of taking.

Now, this method aside, we have a different hope. Our hope is more profound and spirit - based. The God of our salvation is compassionate, remember? Time and again He commands us to give our concerns, worries, and cares to Him and trust Him to handle it all. So, if you are prone to attacks of depression be diligent over your mind.

At step 1.) when you get stuck on an issue, first you need to recognize how your feelings of helplessness are false. The word yasha is translated help in the King James Bible, but profoundly enough it actually means save, savior, and delivered. When you sense you are powerless to change something stop, go into your prayer closet, and pray something like this:

Heavenly Father, thank you for your sovereignty and grace. I know You are who You say. I trust in every word. Now I receive your help in the area of _________________ . I know you are coming to the rescue to help me solve this problem and I want to say thank you for that. I am so grateful for Your kindness and compassion. I praise you always. In Jesus' name, amen.

Now angels have been put to work in your situation because you've taken hold of the help God promised you. Now stop worrying.

Philippians 4:6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Switch your focus to helping someone else. Go to a shelter, an orphanage, or a nursing home and offer to help in some way. Go to a family member who's having trouble keeping things organized if that's your gift and offer to help. Call someone who's in need of your talents and just offer them up with no strings attached. No viable transportation? Offer a neighbor some support with babysitting or gardening. Invest in someone else. When you are being used in a gratifying way you stop obsessing over what's wrong with you and shift to what's the right thing to do. You feel better because you're exercising your strengths.

Now that you've prayed a biblical prayer and taken your mind off of the negative things you feel, it's time to renew your mind. When you get home from your helps, go ahead and spend some time in the Word. Ward off any depressing thoughts. Get a big glass of lemonade or a milkshake or some milk and cookies, or whatever you like. Get settled, crack open your Bible, and brush up on His promises. I suggest the gospel of John where Jesus prays for us for hours in the garden of Gethsemane. It's eye opening to see how He had hope for us even then. Also, take time to explore Romans chapter 8. Next, try Psalm 121. It's so sweet to hide His promises in our hearts.

Do this until your mind has been renewed and you know He's on your side. Trust Him, He cares so deeply for you, more than anyone else ever can. Then, make this a part of your life. Live this way so that you can consistently stay on track.

Now, if you're in the pit of depression already and far beyond step 1 of the depression cycle, it'll take even more to come out of it. I'll share some biblical, Christian techniques for overcoming this deeper depression in Part 3. By the way, our prayers can be more effective if we pray in a biblically sound way. To learn more about this go to doersoftheword.org and look into church service archives to find more information about this, as well as deliverance.