Most people dealing with depression depend on drugs, try to have so many friends to make them feel good, eat or obsessed with weight loss, try to listen to music or watch or funny movie - which does help however it is only temporary. I hear you saying = Kay how can I overcome this gush of sadness or depression when I just lost my job/ had a miscarriage/ lost my joy/inability to conceive. The answer - Don't give up! Only quitters quit and you ain't no quitter! While Jesus fasted his 40 days the devil came to tempt him because he knew the victory that will evolve from his fasting. When the battle gets more intense, that when your victory is about to be unleashed. I remember 4 month before conceiving, its like all hell broke loose, no job, verge of losing my house, bad reports from the doctor, injury and depression. And dealt with depression during my first trimester.
Its quite amazing that when victory is right around the corner, the devil hits you with depression. Depression is something we do not want to talk about and sadly most christians go through it. Prophet Elijah did. Right after his greatest victory, he gets suddenly depressed. The devil is very tricky because he knows our minds can affect our entire being and especially our emotions and actions. Depression often starts by little words - no one likes me, everyone hates me, I'm not worthy to be blessed by God, Why is everything going wrong.
I have personally gone through depression and know what its like. And sometimes the devil tries to send depression my way but I have a different approach and know how to tackle it, which I will discuss later. Back to Elijah,
He failed to see God in what had happened and Elijah as but God’s instrument. Like so many today he was completely absorbed with a man and as a result misrepresented the truth of what had actually happened. Motivated by his hurt pride, his anger and resentment against Elijah blinded him to the work of God and the revelation of the event.
When we proudly protect our own turf, when we get our eyes on people and what they have done or said, we fail to see God at work. When our eyes are on people, whether in admiration of a person’s life or in resentment as with Ahab, we miss the truth. Indeed, we distort the truth, we blow it all out of shape, or hide it completely. We become blind to the work of God. All we see are the conditions. When this happens, we are unable to respond with the right kind of action--with ministry, endurance, and faith.
Life is full of disappointments and if we are not extremely careful, those expectations will derail us as they become demands of our heart. It is not wrong for us to hope for the best and to look to the Lord for that. First Corinthians 13:7 says “love . . . believes all things, hopes all things.” The same is true for faith according to Heb. 11:1. But 1 Corinthians 13:7 also says, “love bears all things, . . . endures all things.” Please note, believing and hoping is sandwiched between bearing and enduring. When we focus on our expectations and make the results we want the source of our happiness, security, or significance, we end up in the Elijah syndrome--fearful, ready to run away, and engulfed in feelings of failure and depression or fear and frustration.
God did not forsake Elijah. Indeed, He sought him out and ministered to him. During our times of unbelief, however, we forfeit God’s best. Note the following examples: (a) Lot chose according to sight, not faith, and ended up losing everything (Gen. 13:1-13). (b) At Kadesh Barnea, the people walked by sight and forfeited the privilege of entering the land. For forty years they wandered in the wilderness (Num. 13:33 and Heb. 3:18-4:2).
God did not forsake Elijah. Indeed, He sought him out and ministered to him. During our times of unbelief, however, we forfeit God’s best. Note the following examples: (a) Lot chose according to sight, not faith, and ended up losing everything (Gen. 13:1-13). (b) At Kadesh Barnea, the people walked by sight and forfeited the privilege of entering the land. For forty years they wandered in the wilderness (Num. 13:33 and Heb. 3:18-4:2).
But alas, we all have feet of clay. Keeping our focus on the Lord and our minds relating to God in the midst of a fallen and evil world that says, happiness, security, significance, (i.e., your needs), are found in the details of life, is not easy. We are bombarded with a general attitude that is illustrated in slogans like “life is short, so play hard. You only go around once, so get all the gusto you can.” Even when we are not affected by that kind of thinking--and Elijah was not--it is still difficult to maintain our spiritual equilibrium or orientation to God. It is easy to get lost in the fog, the dense clouds that sometimes envelop us. We try to fly by the seat of our pants rather than by our biblical instrument panel. As a result, we get lost or we crash and burn emotionally.
GOD LOVES YOU, HE SENT HIS SON TO DIE ON THE CROSS FOR YOU! I hear you say, yes I know but what do I do when things are not turning out the way you expect - Hold on to God's word. David encouraged himself in the Lord. When he lost all including his household he encouraged himself. Encourage yourself and then you go forth and possess what was stolen from you. Speaking and believing his word, allowing God to lead and direct your paths and fill your mouth with praise.
Never Let the enemy try to play a mind game with you. It is God's will for us to be healed, delivered, blessed, lenders and not borrowers. Find what God says in his word concerning your situation, speak it, believe it and combine it with obedience and giving and watch what God will do in your life! The truth is God is concerned about us because we are his children, but the truth is children who know their rightful place have no fear in their dad and take authority. It no longer time to shed a tear but to speak God's word.
Talk to God like you are talking to a friend. "Lord I'm hurt and sad that ..... I have no where to go and I need you. I know you can hear me. Your word says we have life and more abundantly. You are the God of all impossibilities and all things are possible with you. Make a way out of no way. Heal my broken heart, I forgive all who hurt me and accept Christ into my heart. I bind every spirit of depression and I speak peace in every area of my life. Grant me wisdom on how to handle things and speak to me. Amen.
Also never neglect your health - Eat healthy, exercise and choose to stay in forgiveness!
