CHRISTIANS DEAL WITH DEPRESSION BY TALKING TO ONESELF WHILE SEEKING GOD HIMSELF
Charlie Brown attempted to kick a football with Lucy holding it. As he goes through the motions, and as his foot approaches the ball, mischievous Lucy moves the ball out of his reach. Charlie winds up on the ground, on his back. With a sigh of exasperation, he asks: “Why do I always fall for the same old trick?” And Lucy answers, “Because, Charlie Brown, you’re a loser.”
Ever find yourself asking, “Why is this happening to me?” Or saying, “Can’t win for losing.” Get down on yourself, feel sorry for yourself, until one of two things happens- either (1) you give up or (2) you get tired of being tired and deal with it.
A specialist in the treatment of emotional disorders said this: “Mild or severe depression affects more people in our culture than any other disorder.”
Some folks get upset at the least little thing and they let it get them down (mild). Others become outraged at something that did not go their way and suffer manic depression (severe).
Following a lecture on manic depression, a clinical psychology professor asked her class of interns, “How would you diagnose a patient who walks back and forth screaming at the top of his lungs one minute, then plops in a chair weeping uncontrollably the next?” One young man raised his hand and answered, “my basketball coach”! Now hear this:
*Depression is a disorder that must be dealt with . . . Moses (Numbers 11:14-15) . . . Jesus (Matthew 26:38) . . . Martin Luther the great religious reformer . . . Martin Luther King the great social reformer . . . many others . . . Godly people struggle with situational, spiritual depression, but they deal with it --- by talking to themselves (confronting their depression) and by seeking God Himself, praying, “Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”
*Being sick (depressed) is not a sin (John 9:2-3) . . .
*Staying sick (depressed) - when there are effective treatments . . . may be a cure . . . are coping strategies . . . is a solution to spiritual depression --- is unwise and unbiblical.
Christians deal with depression by talking to self while seeking God Himself – as did King David, “a man after God’s own heart” whose psalms of praise inspire all of us who love the Lord.
There is no better self-help for dealing with discouragement, despair and despondency caused by depression than the Companion Psalms 42-43 . . . In these psalms, it is obvious that:
David was being taunted by enemies of the Lord and of those who trust in the LORD. Enemies of God turned against David because of his public expressions of trust in God. Their disrespect for the Lord, evidenced by their disdain for God’s commandments plunged David into severe spiritual depression.
He deals with his depression by talking to self while seeking the Lord God Himself (a renewal of his Faith) - Psalms 42-43 . . .
How do you feel, David? headache . . . upset stomach . . . hurt all over . . . helpless . . . abandoned . . . confused . . . guilty . . . fatigued . . . no energy . . . discombobulated . . . unmotivated . . . loss of desire . . . loss of appetite.
What are you doing about it, David? go around looking sad . . . cry a lot . . . quit eating . . . stay awake at night worrying . . . try to sleep it off in the daytime . . . stay away from people . . . no longer participate in activities . . . no longer talk to my friends about how I feel.
Have you thought about talking to yourself? Confront yourself as to why you are depressed . . . learn from your depression . . . admit you have a problem . . . get a medical exam . . . talk to a Christian counselor . . . identify what triggers your depression . . . adopt a plan.
Have you thought about seeking God Himself? Why not ask God to prop you up on your leaning side . . . renew your vows to the Lord . . . weigh the world’s counsel by biblical standards . . . trust in the LORD with all thine heart and lean not on your own understanding . . . place your spiritual depression under the Spirit’s control!
Once David sorted out his feelings . . . sifted through all that he had tried to do in his own strength, but failed . . . confronted the causes of his depression . . . admitted that his circumstances were not going to change at least any time soon, he was left with one question: “How will I change my attitude”?
The ABCDE of an attitude adjustment:
Acknowledge a longing in your heart to know God better. There’s no need to keep on “thirsting” for God; there is a “crying need” to know the LORD better, to have a “closer walk” with Him, to be near Him, to be aware of His presence, to be guided by His Spirit. (repeat the adjustment line)
Believe that the Lord is with you by day and by night. Thus, pray to God in the morning, asking Him to direct you through the day; when evening shadows give way to nighttime darkness, get in touch with that song in your heart which the Lord put there when you invited Him to come in to stay. (repeat . . .)
Continue to seek the Lord - calling upon Him with no let-up. When you devote yourself to living in the Light of Truth - as revealed in His Word, as guided by the Spirit, as affirmed by fellow believers – you will turn from feeling “cast down” to feeling “lifted up”! “From sinking sand, He lifted me”! (repeat . . .)
Dispute negative voices that: claim your faith in the Lord is in vain . . . say you’re out-of-date if you trust One who was crucified . . . walk in His steps . . . worship one God whose way is the only way, whose judgment awaits those who reject Him. Discern between voices that speak truth and voices that spawn lies. Ask: “What does God’s Word teach God’s People about this matter. . . issue . . . question of right vs wrong?”
Say “No” to the world’s proposition that any “god” will do, any lifestyle is okay. Dispute it and see it for what it is - “the broad way that leads to destruction”!
Say “Yes” to the narrow way set forth by Christ Jesus who was raised from the dead! Discern the truth of it . . . see Him for who He is - My Lord and my God!
Enjoy your “walk with the Lord in the light of His Word . . . What a glory He sheds on our way! While we do His good will, He abides with us still - and with all who trust and obey”! “Exceeding Joy” . . . “Great joy” . . . “Overwhelming joy” can be yours for the doing of His Will!
Anthony Hopkins the famous British actor found himself despondent and in the depths of despair caused by his alcoholism and atheism. He tells about his depressed state of mind and soul that led him to the brink of suicide.
Hopkins was invited to an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting. There he met a lady who led him to the Lord by asking him one simple question: “Why don’t you just trust in the Lord?”
In a television interview Hopkins confessed that, because of that deadly combination of alcoholism and atheism, he was hell-bent on personal destruction before he finally realized that he needed help from a power greater than himself.
Hopkins turned to the Lord, and the Lord turned his life around!
Speaking to a gathering of 500 college students shortly after he was knighted by Queen Elizabeth, Hopkins testified: “I still cannot believe that my life is what it is now, because I should have died in Wales - drunk and without hope . . . We can talk ourselves into death or we can talk ourselves into the best life we’ve ever lived . . . None of this was a mistake. It was a destiny.“
Seek the person of God - ready, willing and able . . . the presence of God - right there with you . . . the praise of God - drives away darkness . . . the precepts of God – your walk with the Lord in light of His Word leads you Home!
O My soul:
“Why are you downcast?
“Why are you disturbed within?
“Place your hope in God!
“Praise Him - your Savior and your God!” Amen!
