The past few weeks/almost a month I have been dealing with
depression. I was kind of scared to state I was depressed because of the
negative connotation that comes with depression. People think that just because
you profess and confess that you’re a child of God, you go to church, you’re
active in ministry, you’re strong in your beliefs that you are exempt from the
issues of life. That is not true! Humans are human’s we ALL have our share of
issues, and they vary depending on the walk God has us to walk. The difference
between believers’ “going through” and non-believers “going through” is we have
a Lord and savior that has come to help us through this life. John 10:10 says “The
thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that
they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” No matter
what we go through Christ have come so that we may have life more abundantly.
(Abundantly means Superabundance, excessive, overflowing, surplus, over and
above, more than enough, profuse, extraordinary, above the ordinary, more than
sufficient.) Notice the verse never said we wouldn’t have issues, we wouldn’t
become sad/depressed, deal with death, have financial issues, it said he came
so we might have life. Someone might be thinking “well life isn’t being lived abundantly
if I’m struggling and facing issues etc”. Well that’s not true. I believe when
Christ said he came so we may have life more abundantly I don’t believe he’s
talking about material things. Have you ever met a person that was poor, but
was so happy knowing they had nothing? They have life more abundantly. They have
joy, they have peace, and they’re comforted in the mist of their situation. 2
Timothy 1:7 says “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power,
and of love, and of a sound mind.” Having love and peace and a sound mind in my
eyes is living life more abundantly. If you don’t have peace you have stress, chaos
just a mess, but Christ has come that no matter what you’re going through in
life, you can still have a happy life. John 14:15-17 says “And I will pray the
Father, and he shall give you another Comforter that he may abide with you for
ever;” The Holy Spirit that dwells within us, is the comforter Jesus is
speaking of. When Christ ascended into the heavens he sent down his Holy
Spirit, we have The Holy Spirit to intercede on our behalf and to comfort us.
Being comforted isn’t limited to when someone dies and you need to be
comforted, it applies to all circumstances ;depression, sadness, anger, aggression,
inadequacy it applies to all those things and more. God is so amazing, because
he literally has given us everything we need. At some point in your Christian
walk hopefully you have the spiritual maturity to know that it’s better to be “rich”
in Christ, than to be rich in the world. There are many “rich” people that are
depressed, you think just because they have money they aren’t depressed, but
they are because they have the important things missing. I’d much rather have
joy, than to have millions.
As I stated before I was dealing with depression, I
researched on the internet about depression from a biblical stand point, I got a
lot of things talking about sin. A lot of people get depressed because of sin.
I also remember hearing a sermon from Tony Evans on Emotional strongholds,
strongholds also come from sin. I totally agree, people become depressed when
they have sinned, yes you should feel convicted when you sin, but you aren’t condemned
no condemnation because Jesus has came and died for our sins. In my case of
depression, sin was still the root, but it wasn’t my sin, it was someone else’s
sin that effected me.(Read my testimony blog and I’m sure you’ll understand
what I mean) This person chose to sin and involved me in it and I’m left
dealing with the after effects, which caused me to feel depressed. I was feeling
depressed mainly because I was having nightmares of it happening all over
again, and worse nightmares, which just caused a severe sadness, It got to the
point that that’s all I could think about. I felt very alone, no one to go to,
nothing. The devil was having a field day, making me think I had no purpose on
this earth, made me think I was worthless making me feel like a burden. He
tried to trick me into contemplating suicide. The devil is a liar! I have a
purpose on this earth, because God created me and he has revealed some of my
purpose to me. I’m very valuable, more valuable than rubies, because my God
says so. I’ am not a burden because God will never put more on me than I could
bear. I’m NEVER alone because The Holy Spirit rest in my body, and because my
God said he will NEVER leave me nor forsake me!
I bet you’re like, well if you know this why did you become
depressed—great question!
I let what happened in my past become bigger than what God
has for my future. I made my problems bigger than my solution, which is God.
Just as Peter was walking on water and took his eyes off Jesus and began to
sink, I did too. I took my eyes off what I KNOW God is able to do and focused
on my current situation. I forgot about what God has already done and focused
more on my past. We have to remember God.( I know it sounds crazy because how
could you ever forget God?) Your problems have a way of making you forget God
and what he can REALLY do. Your problems have a way of making you doubt God and
his abilities. It’s ALL lies. You have to remember who God really is, and
remember what he has been to YOU! Nobody knows who God is to you like you do,
so we must remember that.
I feel that Christian’s (in the church) don’t really talk
about depression; I think it has a lot to do with pride and shame. I know I was
ashamed to tell the people in my circle I was depressed. People think just
because you’re saved you should never get down, that’s not true, we just have a
God that loves us enough to give us the peace that surpasses ALL understanding.
Pride, won’t allow people to share their depression because they like that
people put them up on a pedestal. They like the fact that people think “they
have it all figured out”. I’m here to tell you I do not have it all figured
out! I’m on this Christian journey just like my fellow brethren and I’m not
exempt from the attacks of the enemy because I’ve been in the Lord for such and
such amount of time.
I believe in transparency, and I also believe we go through
things in life not only to strengthen us, but so we can be there to help
someone else. I just want you to know, no you’re not alone in this, you have
God and you have me.
Today was a really great day, I’ve had some great people
praying for me, and I’ve had a great talk with God and I’m fine! I’m just
reminded I can’t handle things on my own; I HAVE to rely on God for EVERYTHING!
If you’re feeling depressed/suicidal you may want to get
professional help, nothing is wrong with talking to someone, you have to take
care of you, no matter what’s going on, your spiritual state is most important.
Call 1-800-273-8255 National Suicide Prevention Lifeline and talk to someone,
go to your pastor, and most importantly get on your knees in prayer!
If you love someone tell them
I love you
Destaynee
No comments:
Post a Comment