How to Fight Depression.
© Butch Dias 08/15/2014
At one time or another everyone will have a chance to experience depression. It is not a fun experience and depression can put up one big fight. Depression will steal and suck the joy right of you and it is a tactic sent from the pit of hell. It can happen at any time and anyone can be affected by it. Being depressed is the pits and it is something you don’t want hanging around. Depression according to Merriam – Webster Dictionary describes it as (1) a state of feeling sad, or a (2) a serious medical condition in which a person feels sad, hopeless, and unimportant and often is unavailable to live in a normal way. I think it has a lot to do with dealing with emotions. Many times life does not give us dozens of red roses that smell so good. Life is not a rose garden. Things, circumstances, trials, people, and life can try to make you depressed. Also tragic events like a loss of a vision, loss of a marriage, loss of a loved one, or loss of a job. Have you ever felt like you have been in a lose / lose situation, where there is no light at the end of the tunnel. That situation is not fun at all. That is when depression sets in.
I started writing this article several weeks before Robin Williams committed suicide from depression. It hit me hard because I knew what he was feeling. I thought that could have been me, but no one would know or care because I’m not as famous or important as he was. Depression is real and can be deadly. I have sometimes have woken up feeling depressed the minute I opened up my eyes. What a depressing way to start the day. The burden was so strong that it was there when I woke up. It is tough when you don’t know how you will make it through the day, never mind the rest of the week. Sometimes there is no light at the end of the tunnel. No hope and no joy will bring on depression. Darkness will step in as soon as you start to stay depressed. Depression affects everyone great or small, rich or poor, famous or not famous. We are not exempt from depression.
The thing that causes the destruction is when you stay depressed. It is when you fall in a rut of depression that can and will cause harm. “You can’t see the light when you are concentrating on the darkness.” BD. I have been concentrating on walking through the depression instead of staying there.
I never thought a Christian could get depressed. I remember saying that being a Christian is the greatest gift that I have ever received in my life. When I got saved I had so much joy that I couldn’t contain it. Now sometimes I can’t find a drop in the bucket. Just the thought about writing about depression hurts. It’s depressing. Why would I ever want to write about something depressing as depression? Sometimes I write about things I’m going through or something that is on my heart. Right now it is burning on my heart and if it helps just one person it is worth it. Whatever the reason I know it is important for someone, including me.
I think about David writing about depression in the Book of Psalms. Psalm 42:5 NIV, “Why are you so downcast, O my soul? Why are you disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my Savior and my God.” How can you lose hope? Usually something tragic happens to rock your boat. Like the perfect storm that was designed from the pit of hell that you were not expecting. Something right out of the blue, just for you.
Are there certain times that you can get depressed? Yes, it is just an attack from the enemy to steal your joy and keep you down. Sometimes around the holidays or a special event can trigger depression; for example, the tragic loss of a loved one. Those things can trigger you into depression. The anniversary of a tragic event can also trigger depression. If you get attacked with depression don’t stay there and don’t dwell on your situation. Dwell on the answer, not the situation. Sometimes you may not know the answer to the problem right away, but that doesn’t mean that there is no answer. Jesus is always the answer you need for any situation. He will meet all your needs according to His riches and glory in Christ Jesus. You may not know the solution for the moment, but he answer is waiting. It may be overwhelming and may seem impossible. God is the God of the impossible and can do anything He desires.
Sometimes it is hard to get focused, but we have to get focused and pray for clarity in these situations. I know it is sometimes hard, but we need people around us to help. We all need each other. We all need to pray and lift each other daily. We cannot do it without each other. Is it wrong if you get depressed? No, it is wrong if you stay there. There is always help and people that will help you. One important thing you need to have is hope. The Bible says that Christ in us is the hope of glory. Christ is always our hope in everything. He will always make a way for us. As I write this I am meditating on Psalm 37:4, “Delight yourself in the Lord and He shall give you the desires of your heart.” That is a word that can take you through any trial or any storm. There is nothing more positive than the word of God. God’s inspiring word will give you the encouragement and strength you need for anything you need.
As I am writing this piece it feels like I’m crawling through a dark tunnel with no way out. As I release my faith I can see the light at the end of the tunnel even though it is not much now. Right now it is only a glimmer, but it is still light. Today I spent some alone time with God and rested in Him and the light got brighter. Hosea 5:15 says, “Then they will seek my face; in their affliction they will earnestly seek Me.” Sometimes when we are going through times of affliction God will bring us great comfort. God sometimes will strengthen us in the midst of our pain. This usually is the time we seek Him the most. This usually is the time we seek Him the most. This is the time we really need to draw upon Him and His resources. The Bible says in 2 Corinthians 12:9A KJV. And he said unto me, “My Grace is sufficient for you: for My Strength is made perfect in weakness.” When we go through trials of depression, He will take us through it. I have wondered if God ever gets depressed, especially when He sees what happens around the world. It could get pretty discouraging.
I think the best way to fight depression is to first keep your relationship with God fresh and renewed. Read your Bible daily and pray daily. Be committed in a strong Bible believing church, keep positive people around you and let go of the negative people, praise God in the good and the bad times. The enemy will attack, but God has given you things to fight back. Whatever happens you can do it when you reach out to others and God.
I am writing this out of my own experiences. I have gone through a lot that overloaded me and I wanted to throw in the towel and quit. But God is good and faithful to take you to the promise land. Stand strong God believes in you. Blessings. Butch