Depression and the Word of God

There are very few of us who have not experienced depression in some form though it may have varied in its intensity. All depression is related to the "fall of man". First we should realize that there is the form of depression that is clinical. This form exists because of some chemical imbalance in the body that has an adverse affect on the mental disposition of the one afflicted. This type must be treated in the area or realm in which its cause exists, i.e., medically. To think though that this is the reason for most of our experienced depression would be inaccurate. Perhaps many of us don't like to hear or accept that the reason for our depression may be because of our unbelief. Let us for a few minutes go on an exploration trip and see what can learn about this foe, called depression.

There are three words that we should closely consider at this point. These are symptom, cause and root-cause. Let us define these:

A symptom is a visible indication or sign that something is wrong.

A cause is one of many reasons by which the symptom exists.

The root-cause is the main reason that the symptom and other causes exist.

When we are depressed we have the tendency to want to withdraw from something that is bothering us. We may be overcome with a feeling of aloneness or worthlessness. We might take the attitude of just not caring about anything anymore. Whatever it is, we do not want to face the reality of what has entered into our life, so we avoid facing the issue by suppressing or denying it.

The following are some symptoms that one may experience when depression sets in:

1. Allowing our emotions to control us.

2. Disappointment with self, with others, with God.

3. Failure to achieve personal goals or accomplish certain tasks.

4. Fear of being hurt by others.

5. Fear of losing control of life's affairs.

6. Fear of the unknown, the uncertainties of life.

7. Feeling independent of God and others.

8. Feelings of rejection.

9. Feelings of unworthiness.

10. Loneliness.

11. Pursuit of satisfaction and happiness in people or the things of this world.

12. Placing our expectations on others and being disappointed when they are not met.

13. Personal pride or self-degradation.

14. Stress and the lack of proper rest.

15. Unachieved ambitions.

16. Unresolved guilt and a condemning conscience.

17. Worry about what might happen.

18. Worry over not having the things we need or think we need.

A careful and honest examination of the above list will reveal that at the root of all of these symptoms and any others that we might add to the list, is the sin of unbelief, "the sin that so easily besets us", which is often coupled with being absorbed with self at either end of the spectrum, i.e., self-degradation or pride. These imbalances stem from unbelief in the promises of God that He will direct the affairs of our life and provide for all of our needs. If we truly believed that everything God allows to come to us, in the way of experiences and circumstances, is really for our eternal good, it would change our lives completely to one of growth in Christ likeness. If we truly believed God's Word and His promises we would be looking for the lesson in the experience, never asking "Why me Lord?" but ever praying and asking that God's Holy Spirit will reveal what the Lord desires to teach us in each experience and thus, trials will not be wasted.

The ultimate solution to depression is a total dependence on God- fully yielding our wills to Him . Adam and Eve were provided with everything they needed in the Garden of Eden. They didn't have to worry or fret. All needs were amply supplied. God had given them all these things as a gift of His Love. Yes, man was created to be dependent upon on their Creator.

The following are some of the things that will help us to become a totally dependent child of God:

1. Acknowledge our own insufficiency. John. 15:5

2. Joyfully accept and be submissive to God's will for us. Hebrews 12:2

3. Really get to know God and Jesus in an intimate way. (It's hard to believe and trust someone that we don't really know.) Philippians 3:10

4. Realize that it is God who has begun a good work in us and that He is very capable of finishing it. Philippians 1:6

5. Forgive those who have hurt us in the past, leave the hurt behind by giving it over to the Lord. Matthew 6:14; Colossians 3:13

6. Repentance for sin and then accepting God's forgiveness thus enabling us to case guilt far behind us, as God has already done. 1 John 1:9; Ephesians 4:32

7. Do not load others down with our expectations of them; give without expecting anything in return. Romans 12:10

8. Do not expect God to fulfill or satisfy all personal desires. He may have something much better in mind. Luke 22:42

9. Pray that God will reveal to us the value of all our experiences. Hebrews 12:11; 1 Peter 1:6-7

10. Face up to the realities of life and truly trust God to "direct the issue" for our spiritual good. 1 Corinthians 10:13 (Diaglott)

11. Realize that there must be growing pains and sufferings if we are to become mature as Christians. Hebrews. 12:11:1; Peter 2:21

12. Leave the uncertainties and the unknowns in God's capable hands to care for us. 1 Peter. 5:7 & Proverbs. 3:5-6

13. Relinquish our attempts to control our destiny and yield all control to God who knows best. Jeremiah. 10:23

14. Share the burden of the experience with a mature Christian friend. James 5:16

15. Let us claim the victory through our Lord Jesus when we first are confronted with feelings of depression. Romans 8:37

16. Let us be quick to praise God in all our experiences. Hebrews 13:5

17. Do not rely on feelings; they can distort God’s facts!

There are examples in the scriptures that show the symptoms of depression. One is found in the book of Jonah, chapter 4. We see Jonah reacting to the mercy that God had exercised towards the inhabitants of Nineveh because they had repented after Jonah had prophesied their destruction because of their evil ways In verse 1, it tells us that Jonah was not only displeased but was very angry with God's decision. In fact he was so upset and depressed that in verse 3 he asks God that he might die. Jonah was more concerned for his own reputation than he was for the welfare of the Ninevites. In his eyes he had lost his credibility as a prophet because God did not carry out his prediction for their destruction. His pride and anger took him into a deep state of depression. He didn't depend on the wisdom of God's choice as being the best for all concerned.

Judas, in his attempt to gain some easy money and push the hand of the Lord, sold the Lord for thirty pieces of silver, expected Jesus would walk right through the midst of those who would take him captive as He had done many times before. After he perceived that his scheme had failed, he tried to undo his bargain with the Pharisees and the chief priests and return the money in exchange for Jesus' release. When his attempt failed, realizing his great sin and filled with guilt and remorse, he went out and hung himself. This was a case of the worst unresolved guilt. His personal reasoning must have dictated that the act was one that was not forgivable. He did not even give the Lord a chance to show mercy.

In 1 Kings 19 we have another severe case of depression in the life of Elijah the Prophet. After many brave stands for God, he gives in to fear and runs from the evil Queen Jezebel who wanted to kill him. He no doubt was so ashamed of his action and his distrust in God, that he slid down into the deep pit of depression. In verse 4 he, like Jonah, asks God to take away his life. He had allowed his emotions to control him. First fear took control of him and he ran. Next he let the feelings of shame and unworthiness drag him down instead of seeking the Lord's forgiveness for his distrust. This all happened because he did not depend on God to overrule for his safety as He had so many times before.

Almost all depression is by choice, whether it is sub-consciously made or not. It is the result of not choosing to depend on the overruling providences of God and of not believing that God has allowed the experience to come to us for the purpose of testing and strengthening our faith in Him. We need to have an ever present awareness of God's love and purpose in our lives whether circumstances are pleasant or painful. We need an ever present awareness that it is God who is working in us to accomplish his will and good pleasure by the power of His Holy Spirit that

He has given each of us. We need an ever present awareness that we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. We need to have an ever present awareness that all things that come into our lives are being used by God to shape us into the image of His precious Son. We need to have an ever present awareness that we are to be pliable clay in the hands of God, our great Potter, submissively allowing Him to shape us into vessels of honor as He sees fit. We need to have an ever present awareness of the need of our total dependence upon God for our every need, both physical and spiritual. It is in this ever present awareness that we shall be able to quickly recognize that subtle enemy, depression, face it for what it is, a tool of Satan, and lift up our heads in prayer and supplication to our great God, acknowledging that we need His help and His power. It is then that we will have the victory over the moment. A great peace will always be ours if our minds and hearts are truly trusting and depending only in His unfailing love to overrule and bless every one of our experiences for the wonderful purpose of conforming us to Jesus image.