In my previous post, I shared that depression is not a sin. Being a Christian, you and I may know that in our heads, but believing it in our hearts is a different thing. I pray that this post can help you move from head knowledge to heart knowledge.
I found myself in a battle about twelve years ago. I was struggling with different situations in my life and at home. I was feeling like I was losing this war, and I couldn’t even pray. One morning I just sat on the edge of my bed and said, “The waves are crashing down on me, and I’m going under, God; throw me a lifeline and hold onto it. Please don’t let me go.” I admit it wasn’t much of a prayer, but it was an honest one. (When your prayers come from your heart, they only need to be honest.) Though my head knows God will not forsake me and that He draws near to the broken-hearted, that day I could not find Him. I was longing for His presence. I sat in silence for a long time. Then simple songs I learned in church came to my mind. “Jesus Loves Me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so,” and “In the Name of Jesus, we have the Victory.” I could not express to God in my own words what I needed to say, but as the days passed, songs became my communication to Him. (Sit in His presence and sing to Him. There are so many songs available today. One of my favorites that I highly suggest you listen to is by Cody Carnes: Plead the Blood.)
While I was sitting on my bed, my eyes turned to a navy blue cloth hanging that was given to me many years ago. On it, in gold-colored thread, were the names of God. I Am, The Living God, God of Peace, Almighty, Immanuel, Jehovah, El Shaddai, The Great Shepherd, Savior, Adonai, Elohim, Refuge and Fortress, The Way, The Truth and The Life, and many more. When I prayed, my prayers were still simple but became powerful. I would pray, God, You said You are I Am; You are Almighty; You are a Refuge and Fortress; You say You cannot lie, so I’m believing and trusting You to be my Refuge and my Fortress. I would just go down the list of names I had and tell God who He said He is and that I wanted Him to be those things in my life. Not only would I tell God who He was, but I would say, “Enemy, you have no authority over me. My God is Almighty,” etc. (When you feel powerless and don’t have the energy to fight, let God be your weapon. Speak the name of Jesus. Scripture tells us that even the demons know who God is and that they have to flee. Write down the names of God every time you come across them in Scripture.)
The last thing I did to win this particular battle was to put Scripture verses on index cards and put them where I could easily read them during the day. (Daily remind yourself of what the Scriptures say. Because depression steals, build structure for your day.)
Sadly, we have become a nation of people who want instant gratification. So, you must give yourself permission to take time to grow and heal in your lifelong journey.
Before I close, here are some verses you might want to keep near to you. I want you to remember you don’t have to fight your battles alone. God is always with you, but if you have a small community of believers you feel comfortable sharing your burdens with, ask them for their support, and remember depression is not a sin. Maybe you have reasons you don’t want your family to know what you are going through, or you don’t have a supportive community. Look for options outside of your circle. You can talk to your doctor; you can call a help line; there are listings of Mental Health Coaches and Counselors in or around your city that you can find on Google or through your state government’s help line.
Psalm 34:18 — “The Lord is near to the broken-hearted and saves the crushed in spirit.”
Psalm 42:11 — “Why are you cast down, O my soul… hope in God.”
Matthew 11:28 — “Come to me, all who are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”
Isaiah 40:29 — “He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength.”
Gram