Breaking Free

Breaking Free: How to Overcome Depression, Loneliness, and Addiction with God’s Help

Introduction:

According to “https://www.hopefordepression.org/depression-facts” The unfortunate truth is that depression is the primary reason why someone dies of suicide about every 12 minutes (over 41,000 people a year), so it's imperative that we understand it and seek out help if we are experiencing it. If you are wrestling with depression right now, or suspect that you are, be encouraged by the following Sermon that you are not alone and that help and healing are not far away.

Have you ever felt like you are alone in this world? Like no one understands you or cares about you? Like you are trapped in a dark pit of despair and hopelessness? If you have, then you are not alone. The World Health Organization states that more than 300 million people worldwide struggle with depression. Depression is a serious mental health condition that affects how you feel, think, and act. It can cause sadness, loss of interest, guilt, low self-esteem, fatigue, insomnia, anxiety, and even suicidal thoughts. Depression can also lead to other problems, such as loneliness, addiction, and lack of love and respect.

Understanding the Problem: Depression and loneliness are not signs of weakness or lack of faith. They are common human experiences that many people in the Bible faced, such as Job, David, Elijah, Jeremiah, and Jesus. God understands our pain and suffering and does not abandon us in our darkest moments. He is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit (Psalm 34:18). He is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble (Psalm 46:1). He comforts us in all our affliction (2 Corinthians 1:4).

Story: In 1995, I found myself in the remote state of Manipur in Northeastern India on a missionary mission. Our goal was to reach out to nearby villages, bolster churches, and share the gospel. On one particular day, we arrived at a village where something extraordinary unfolded.

As we stepped into this village, I noticed a man whose face radiated pure joy. He welcomed us with open arms, offering his assistance and even his home to us. His warmth and kindness were contagious, and he went out of his way to make everyone feel comfortable. I was deeply touched by his spirit, but there was one catch: I couldn't understand the tribal language he spoke.

After spending some time with him, I turned to one of my local guides and inquired, "What is he saying? Who is this remarkable person?" The guide then proceeded to share his incredible life story.

The year prior, a violent conflict erupted between the Naga and Kuki tribes. One fateful night, Naga militants descended upon this man's village, unleashing a barrage of bullets upon the villagers. Tragedy struck, as he had a child and his wife was pregnant. Amid the chaos and fear, his wife, clutching their child, attempted to flee for safety. Tragically, a bullet pierced through her, taking the life of her unborn child and her small son as well.

The horror didn't end there. The militants set fire to every house in the village, destroying crops and animals. This man lost not only his family but also everything he had ever known in an instant. The trauma was so overwhelming that he seemed to lose his sanity, living like a man possessed.

Thankfully, the local church extended its hand to him. Through their care and support, he had a life-changing encounter with God. They helped him rebuild his home and offered him a new beginning. With a transformed heart, he started serving the local church and, in doing so, became a beacon of hope for others.

At the moment when I heard his story, tears welled up in my eyes. I looked at his face with profound respect and honor. And in that very moment, he was selflessly serving others food with boundless joy and an infectious smile on his face.

God’s Love and Care: Love and respect are essential for our well-being and happiness. God created us in His image and likeness (Genesis 1:27) and loves us with everlasting love (Jeremiah 31:3). He commands us to love Him with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and to love our neighbor as ourselves (Mark 12:30-31). He also calls us to respect ourselves and others as His children (1 Peter 2:17). When we love and respect God, ourselves, and others, we fulfill the law of Christ (Galatians 6:2) and experience joy and peace (Romans 14:17).

Story: Last year my son went YWAM DTS training in Bangalore. He shared a story about one of his fellow trainees named Tenngoi, a boy from Nagaland, a northeast state of India. In his childhood, the boy and his sister lost their mother, and their father took another woman. Their lives became worse as they were beaten and abused daily. One day, the boy decided to take his sister and run away from home.