Tuesday, February 17, 2015

Overcoming Depression - There Is A Spiritual Solution




“If we were never depressed, we would not be alive— only material things don’t suffer depression. If human beings were not capable of depression, we would have no capacity for happiness and exaltation. There are things in life that are designed to depress us; for example, things that are associated with death. Whenever you examine yourself, always take into account your capacity for depression. […] Depression tends to turn us away from the everyday things of God’s creation. But whenever God steps in, His inspiration is to do the most natural, simple things— things we would never have imagined God was in, but as we do them we find Him there. The inspiration that comes to us in this way is an initiative against depression. But we must take the first step and do it in the inspiration of God. If, however, we do something simply to overcome our depression, we will only deepen it. But when the Spirit of God leads us instinctively to do something, the moment we do it the depression is gone.” CHAMBERS

1 Kings 19:3-5  “Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, while he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness. He came to a broom bush, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.” Then he lay down under the bush and fell asleep.”

Have you ever struggled with depression? Everyone has to some degree. We often deny that we are … depressed that is. We certainly don’t want others to know … thing is they already do.  Our bodies shout out that we are depressed.  Feeling sadness is normal.  Feeling loss and the emotions that come with it .. that is normal.  When Lazarus died .. Jesus wept over his death.  (John 11:33-35) But depression is something more … depression can become our master.  Sadness will pass with time.  When depression takes root in our lives it can affect every aspect of our being.  The point here is that depression should not be our master.  We have a choice.  The fruit of the Spirit is a result of our relationship with Jesus.  A product of our intimacy with the Word. The fruit of the spirit is a spiritual result independent of the world and its influence (While I am writing this I can hear Haitian Rap music in the background … mixed in the Creole are expletives in English. A reminder of how the world surrounds us and is constantly oppressing us … what we see, what we hear affecting how we feel ….) 

When you are depressed .. who or what do you turn to?  Do you seek out friends who have nothing more to offer than a kind word … a hug … if you were not a Christian, that is the best you could hope for … But you are a Christian … you have the capacity to rise above your circumstances.  Every aspect of relationship with God requires faith.  Rising above depression requires faith as well.  Will you need the help of other Christians?  Very likely.  But rising above depression requires a spiritual solution that the world and your best well-intentioned non-Christian friends cannot offer you. ELGIN

Bondye Beni Ou (God Bless You)

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