Depression is REAL

What is depression?

"a condition of general emotional dejection and withdrawal; sadness greater and more prolonged than that warranted by any objective reason" ~dictionary.com

Who struggles with depression?
   
     There are many possibilities to this answer
         1. One who has lost a loved one
         2. A mother who has a new infant/or one who wants to be a mother
         3. A pastor's wife with lots of stresses of so many people depending on her
         4. A woman who has aborted her child and now regrets it
         5. Someone struggling with a terminal illness
         6. Someone facing difficulties in their marriage
         7. One who has lots of work stress
         8. One who's spouse is serving in the military and is never home
         9. Someone with financial difficulties
         10. A parent whose child is making poor choices
         11. A person who has been without a job
         12. One who wants to be somewhere else in their life
         13. One who doesn't feel loved
         14. One who has no sense of belonging
         15. One who feels all alone
The possibilities are endless...the truth is it could be ANYONE...in any walk of life...we are all able to struggle with depression...
    
That being said...why, as Christians, do we tend to think that Christians aren't touched by this?  Why do we think that the only reason that someone who is a Believer would struggle with depression is when he/she takes their eyes off their true source of joy, Jesus Christ?  I know of many Christians who are so judgmental of someone struggling with depression...and it REALLY frustrates me.  Depression is REAL...and can affect ANYONE...Believers and unbelievers alike. 

In the last few weeks I have read quite a few books on depression by Christian Authors.  I am hoping this information helps you...maybe one struggling with depression...maybe someone who loves someone who is currently struggling...or maybe just info you can tuck away for future reference.

If YOU are the one depressed...

As believers we must always remember this "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:" 1 Peter 5:8

Satan wants you discouraged no matter where you are at in life...but the Holy Spirit wants you hopeful. 

*****BE ON GUARD - Satan is powerful and he will use any way he can to get into your life to discourage you and make you less effective for Christ. 

If you find yourself feeling discouraged, here are some verses that can be helpful...

Psalm 30:5b "weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning."

2 Chronicles 20:17 "Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the Lord with you, O Judah and Jerusalem: fear not, nor be dismayed; to morrow go out against them: for the Lord will be with you."

Psalm 32:7 "Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance. Selah."

Psalm 40:1-3 "I waited patiently for the Lord; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.2 He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.3 And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the Lord."

James 4:7 "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you."

Psalm 130:5 "I wait for the Lord, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope."

James 1:2-4 "My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing."

Psalm 27:1-4 "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?2 When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell.3 Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident.4 One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to enquire in his temple."

*****A few thoughts to remember taken from the author Hulme
              1. One can not control their feelings in depression, but one can               control their thoughts.
              2. Pray for other people, it helps get the focus off of yourself.
              3. If you are carrying with you resentments from the past, they are like poison to your mental health.
              
*****A few points from a book I read by Dr. Backus
              1. Locate misbeliefs, remove them, and replace with truth.
              2. What you think and believe determines how you feel and what you do.
              3. Pray answers instead of problems.
              4. Disconnect the trigger that sets off the bomb.

*****Joyce Meyer in her book made these points
              1. Take care of issues at onset
              2. You can't always feel joy until you activate it by purposely operating in it.  Often the decision comes first, then feelings follow.
              3. We cannot put all causes of a problem in one box and pull out one right answer.
              4. Satan wants us weak and unable to do anything except put up with whatever he decides to throw on us.

*****What about Meds to help with depression???
           You ask this question to 10 Christians and you will get 10 different answers.  
            Truth is...there are medical reasons that do go along with and sometimes cause depression...chemical imbalances...other physical struggles...the medical side of depression is real.
            One author put it this way - if you go to a Dr. for an infection and the doctor ONLY gives you a pain killer and sends you home what will happen?  Sure...you won't feel the pain, but you also won't get to the solution...you also need an antibiotic.  However...even if you get the antibiotic to cure the infection, you would still use a pain killer to treat the pain until the problem subsides.  I thought this was a very good illustration.  The "infection" causing the depression isn't going to go away until you figure out what it is and use an "antibiotic" to fix it...if it's spiritual...get in the Word and work through it.  That being said...sometimes one does need the "pain killer" to help while working through the real issue.
            I know that not all that read this will agree with me...and that's fine...I'm not here to debate this issue...but it is a very touchy one, so please think through your thoughts on it before you flippantly throw them at someone who may be really struggling.

If you are helping someone who is struggling with depression...

     *****Pray for them and with them (if they are willing to let you)
     *****Listen - they don't expect you to have all the answers, sometimes they just need an ear to listen.
     *****Bring them back to God's Word.
     *****Help them focus on truth and not what ifs or "feelings"
     *****Most will give you the cold shoulder at first, don't take it as anything personal...just keep loving them just the same.
     *****Have compassion
     *****Treat them carefully, but don't "dance around" something that you know is sin...address it as such.
     *****Ask specific questions - if you ask a generic question, you will get a generic answer.
     *****Show them Jesus - in your words, your actions.
     *****Pray that God would show you how to help them...that He would give you wisdom that only He can give.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QtNzOpKvPfw