We Have a Solution- Depression Part 2

In part 1 of this series of posts, I acknowledged to myself and those reading the post that depression is a very real problem to many people today. I felt like that post was a little discouraging. Today I want to offer you hope! Yes, I have struggled with depression, but also, I have found freedom and healing in Jesus Christ! A quote from Uninvited by Lysa Terkeurst is this. “Running from the pain won’t help. Pretending to be fine when you aren’t won’t help. Avoiding relationships won’t help. Turn to God.”

I like to compare myself to plants. When I am depressed and discouraged, I feel like that thistle. Other times I am just on a plain. Life is neither great or terrible, kind of like a plant that isn’t blooming. But when I allow Jesus to bring truth and peace to my life, I am like a beautiful flower.
Last week I stated that the main cause of depression is believing lies. I want to revisit these lies and refute them with the Truth of God’s Word.

I am not doing enough

“For the body is not one member, but many. If the foot shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear shall say, Because I am not they eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling? But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased Him. And if they were all one member, where were the body? But now are they many members, yet but one body.”

1 Corinthians 12:14-20

These verses clearly say that every person in the body of Christ has their different responsibility. As long as we are doing what Jesus wants us to do, we don’t have to worry that we aren’t doing enough. He will use us all to fulfill a much greater purpose than any one of us could do on our own.

My circumstances are bigger than God

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”

Psalm 46:1

“Ah Lord God! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee:”

Jeremiah 32:17

God is so big! He created the entire world in six days, and He holds everything in place. No trial you’re facing was overlooked by Him. He knows how much you can handle.

God doesn’t love me

“Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.”

1 John 3:1

“There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear; because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. We love him, because he first loved us.”

1 John 4:18

John talks about love a lot on the books he wrote. Probably the most common Bible verse is John 3:16. God proved His love for us when He came and died for us even though we were sinners who did not deserve it.

People don’t love me

“A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.”

Proverbs 17:17

“The father of the righteous shall greatly rejoice: and he that begetteth a wise child shall have joy of him. Thy father and mother shall be glad, and she that bare thee shall rejoice.”

Proverbs 23:24-25

First of all, it doesn’t really matter what other people think of you. God loves you, and that will never change. True friends will love you at all times. Find those true friends. I know that there are a lot of people who do not have loving parents. If that is you, I’m sorry. But most people do have a parent, or parent figure who loves them.

My challenge to you is that when you are depressed, take a lot of time to study God’s Word, and see what He says about you. I have found it helpful to memorize scripture. Recently I have really been struggling with hopelessness and what feels like broken dreams. I committed to memorizing Psalm 91. This passage has become very precious to me. I quote it when I am tempted to become discouraged or when I want to satisfy my desires on wrong things. The Word of God is powerful. Satan has no hold on us when we acknowledge who God is- that He is stronger than whatever we might be facing. Another way to find healing is to share your struggle with someone. Find a trusted friend who will be able to listen and speak truth back into your life.
To wrap this up, I want to tell you that God is REAL! His power is evident in so many ways. I also would love to hear what helps you all fight depression. Leave a comment or send us an email and let me know. We are all here to help each other out.

Written by Ginger