Talk about a common foe!
Just about everybody has had this one hit in one way or another. Some have experienced the “blues” or some “down days” along the way. Others have experienced a season of disappointment–being grieved, pressed, wounded, and discouraged. Still others have battled with depression for their very life. This is why this topic is so hard to really address and deal with effectively. I suspect that it is the reason that it is not usually dealt with. Not to mention, so many church leaders grapple with this one silently and need answers themselves. And…yes, there are answers.
Now, you do need to know that answers for depression are complex. There are so many types of depression. There are so many culprits behind depression. This makes finding the answers very, very tough. That is probably one of the reasons that you find so many people in the pit of depression for years.
I have seen so many articles and books on depression. I have heard so many messages and seminars on the topic. Almost all miss it! Not that they are completely clueless (some are!), but because the answer is so complex. Often, there are many answers. You most likely will not find
all of them in one place (well, except for the Bible. :)). In fact, you will probably not find all of them here today in this message. But, my prayer is that you will find the right path and get going in the right direction so you can be free forever from the big D: depression!
Yes! You can be free FOREVER from depression! Free for good!
Skeptical? Well, beloved, you can be set free to live the abundant life that Christ died to give you. That is part of your inheritance as a believer. Not just when you get to heaven–but, TODAY! The determining question is, “Do you want to be free?” Do you want to be healed? Do you
want to let go of depression? Or, has depression become a friend…a trophy…a way of life? It is all about our choice. Do we want to be free and never go back into the pit of depression or do we find ourselves comfortable in our snug pit?
Beloved, I want to see you free. You can be free today! You can let go of this big “D” forever. Let me show you how…
Don’t Play with Depression
Depression is very, very dangerous. If you play with depression, it will always take you further than you want to go. You won’t even realize that it has you shackled and in a pit until you can hardly see light.
Depression is a serious weapon of the enemy. He uses it to enslave his victims. He wants you as a slave.
When you find depression, don’t play with it. Don’t ignore it. Don’t justify it as “being real and honest.” It is a snare! Do not indulge it. It may begin with indulging a bad mood…or “suffering” through a tough time…or aggravation when being around those “happy” people….or burying the pain of a disappointment. Don’t let it linger!
Don’t settle for depression being a part of your life. According to God’s word, it is not a part of the life of a victorious Christian. Our culture may find glory in victimization. They may keep a long list of wrongs done to them, many from as far back as their birth, but we are
commanded to let those things go and choose LOVE (1 Corinthians 13).
We are offered the free gift of eternal life. That eternal life is not something that we will unwrap in heaven to enjoy. That eternal, abundant life is a gift we are given to enjoy beginning the day of our salvation. It does not promise that tough times will never come to our life, but it does promise that for every tough time, we are engulfed with grace that is sufficient to carry us through with hope and a confidence that we will make it through and find ourselves on the other
side safe, sound, and lavishly blessed. That is enough to say goodbye to depression for the rest of our lives.
Fight until it is ALL gone! Which brings me to the next point…
Don’t Yield to Depression!
Do not give in to depression. Do not yield. Do not settle for where you are. Depression is very, very dangerous. It is deadly.
Depression is the work of the enemy. His whole desire is to set up strongholds in our lives so he has a base of operation. Depression is his base of operation in our lives. Scripture says that if we resist the devil, he will flee (James 4: 7). Resist the spirit of depression, do not let him have ground to operate in your life. He will always take you further than you want to go and destroy as much of your life as he
can. Blues, down days, major depression, clinical depression all come from the same enemy, who wants to set up strongholds so he can keep you in bondage and destroy your life. But, there is hope! Take a peek at what 2 Corinthians 10: 3-5 says…
“For though we walk (live) in the flesh, we are not carrying on our warfare according to the flesh and using mere human weapons. For the weapons of our warfare are not physical [weapons of flesh and blood], but they are mighty before God for the overthrow and destruction of strongholds,[Inasmuch as we] refute arguments and theories and reasonings and every proud and lofty thing that sets itself up against the [true] knowledge of God; and we lead every thought and purpose away captive into the obedience of Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One).”
If it has dug in deep into your soul, shake it off…cast it off. In fact, get a picture of an animal like a cat pouncing on your head and how you would throw it off of you. You would know that it doesn’t belong on your head. I would assume that it would catch you by surprise and your reactions would take over, casting it across the room.
We need to have the same reaction to depression. It can hurt you and those you love much more deeply than a cat or a bird flying into you. Don’t yield to it. Instead, cast it far away from you. Lead every thought and purpose of the enemy away captive, shackle every single one and match it up to the Word. If those thoughts do not match up, cast
them far, far away from you. Each and every one of them!
Don’t yield to depression. Stand on the Word of God. Get in the Word and see what God says about you. Let Him renew your mind with His Word.
He thinks about you so much that His thoughts for you can never be counted. You are His delight. You are His treasure. You are His beloved. He has battled all of the powers of hell to give you an inheritance TODAY that supersedes your circumstances. Take a peek at one of my favorite new Bible verses:
“So, we are not giving up. How could we! Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without His unfolding grace. These hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times. the lavish celebration prepared for us. There’s far more here than meets the eye. The things we see now are here today, gone tomorrow. But the things that we can’t see now will last forever.” (2 Corinthians 4: 16-18, The Message Bible)
Stand on the Word, not the circumstances that you see around you right now. Get it deep inside of you. It is the only way to have victory over depression and the other fiery darts that the enemy throws your way. It is a weapon that the enemy cannot quench or defeat. It is one of the
tools that God has given you to fight the good fight (Ephesians 6: 10-17)…
“God is strong, and He wants you strong. So take everything the Master has set out for you, well-made weapons of the best materials. And put them to use so you will be able to stand up to everything the Devil throws your way. This is no afternoon athletic contest that we’ll walk
away from and forget about in a couple of hours. This is for keeps, a life-or-death fight to the finish against the Devil and all his angels. Be prepared. You’re up against far more than you can handle on your own. Take all the help you can get, every weapon God has issued, so that when it’s all over but the shouting you’ll still be on your feet. Truth, righteousness, peace, faith, and salvation are more than words. Learn how to apply them. You’ll need them throughout your life. God’s Word is an indispensable weapon. In the same way, prayer is essential in this ongoing warfare. Pray hard and long. Pray for your brothers and
sisters. Keep your eyes open. Keep each other’s spirits up so that no one falls behind or drops out.”
God has help! If you want to be victorious, you first must go to Him and see how He wants for you to battle. He gives us all that we need to fight the good fight. He equips us with all that we could ever need to fight to the finish. He gives us everything that we need to stand up against all of the strategies and deceits of the enemy. Depression is a
strategy that Satan uses to steal our joy, our witness and our abundant life. He knows that if he can get you in the pit of depression, he can attain his goals to “steal, kill, and destroy” you, your life, and the lives of those you influence. That would be a scary thought if we did not have hope. Each of us have everything that we need to stand up
against His attack. So, beloved, stand firm! Never, never yield to depression!
Clean Your Windows!
I was listening to an sermon on audio by one of our local pastors the other day. It had a super illustration that I think really helps those who have battled or are battling depression. It is actually a story that says it all…
There was once a woman who was washing her dishes and looking out the window over her sink. Her husband was home and they were chattering while she wrapped up her chores. As she was washing her dishes, she saw her neighbor come out to hang out her sheets to dry on the clothes line. She was stunned that her neighbor would hang out such dingy, dirty sheets. They were so dingy and dirty that she beckoned her husband to get up and look at those sheets. She knew that if it were “HER” sheets, she would be too embarrassed to hang them outside for everyone to see if they were so filthy. Her husband looked and quietly
asked if she had a warm sudsy cloth close by. She did, so she handed it to her husband while looking at him with a completely puzzled look. He took the clothe and washed her window. As he cleaned it completely, she looked out to see that the neighbor’s sheets were pristine white. She had been looking through her own dirty window. Her view was impaired by her own dirty window.
Depression is just like this. It impairs your view on life. You can look at your husband… children… mother… father… best friend… pastor… friends at church… and even strangers driving down the road and see them completely different when looking through depression.
I know that when I battled depression, I saw everything different. I saw everyone different than they really were. I took comments different. I saw looks from those I love (and didn’t care for) and immediately took them wrong. I read “into” what they were saying and found myself constantly offended and hurt by others.
Only as God came into my life and cleaned up my view on life was I able to really see clearly. It took “cleaning my windows” to keep me from digging even deeper into my pit. Until my outlook on life was cleaned up, I was constantly upset, striving with others, getting wounded and brokenhearted, and digging deeper and deeper into the pit of depression.
Why not let God loose to clean your windows? He can do miracles. You can get a clear view!
Don’t Push Your Limits!
Gulp!
I am the queen of multitasking. You should see me right now…well, I don’t want to confess something at this moment. 🙂
In our culture, women who are busy, productive, go-getters are highly valued. Now, I am probably right up there with those that enjoy productivity. I admit it. I do believe that God wants women who are movers and shakers. However, there are some dangers. The enemy loves to “prey” on those movers and shakers in the Body of Christ. He loves to
sneak in and ADD to the schedules and to-do lists that God has already given us. The result, if we are not careful, is overload. Ever felt it?
It is sneaky. It comes so slowly that even when we are very careful, things can slip in. Before we know it, we are pushing our limits. It is the bait that the enemy holds over the pit of depression. And, it works! How many of us push our limits? I am the first one to confess.
This is one area that the enemy used to lure me toward the pit of depression. To find deliverance from the pit that lasts, God had to show me the importance of respecting my limitations so I stay far from the edge.
Yep, you read right…limitations. Does that word just grate your mind like it does mine? I remember the resistance to setting limits. Oh, I remember the resistance to even admitting that I had limitations. I was so proud to accomplish…to get things done…to help others… That
was the lure that led me straight to the pit of depression. My view (here goes those dirty windows again) was that my limitations were hindrances to ministering for the Lord. They frustrated me so intensely. I could not figure out for the life of me how so many other women kept so much in balance while I crashed so easily. I constantly wondered if I was just a shallow Christian. Look at what God gave me as
His answer to my cry from Psalm 199: 96a…
“I have seen that everything human has its limits and end no matter how extensive, noble, and excellent.”
EVERYTHING HUMAN…yep, that included me.
Has its limits…OUCH!
No matter how extensive, noble, and excellent…THERE! That feels better! You can have limits and still be a godly woman. It does not even surprise God that we have limits. We are created with limitations!
HOOT!
We have to be honest and accept that we do have limits. We cannot do everything that comes our way. God does not want for us to. We cannot please everyone. We cannot help everyone. We all have limits.
If we want to be faithful to do everything that we are called to do, we need to stick to our priorities. We need to choose the very best–those things that only we can do–and let go of all of the rest.
We need to watch out for the warning signs that tell us that we are close to the edge, if we do not want to find ourselves stumbling on over the edge into a big deep pit. The warning signs are very evident–pain, fatigue, irritability, frustration, snippy responses, overload, crashes, and ultimately depression!
We cannot continually push our limits or we may find that we, ourselves, are pushing toward a “Grand Canyon” of depression. We need to set limits–on what we do and on our day.
We need to keep our lives balanced–knowing and sticking to our priorities, using to-do lists to help pace ourselves and keep our focus each day, setting up a doable and balanced schedule, and taking care of ourselves with regular times to fill back up. Most of all, following the Holy Spirit to only include what He directs in our day each day.
Otherwise, we won’t be able to spot those things that get us off balance and push our limits–going too much, disorganization, too many extras, not planning, needing to prune, not enough margin for solitude, and an area of our life dominating and taking over everything else.
Yes, we are human. We have very real limits. Pushing our limits is very dangerous. It gets us too close to the edge. Then, all the enemy has to do is trip you up and you are captive in the pit of depression.
Stay back! Stay clear! Don’t push your limits!
Learn To Encourage Yourself!
Discouraged? Don’t wait for others to “get it.” Don’t wait for others to notice.
When I look back over my battle with depression, I remember one thing that was a big snare to me. You see, I have always looked at others and tried to lift them up and encourage them when I saw them struggling. It is a compulsion that just wells up in me.
When I battled depression, something changed. I remember looking around and not finding ONE PERSON who was looking to encourage me. I looked for years and it just seemed that everyone was going on their “merry
own way” and not even seeing the pain that was very much on the surface. I could not understand why no one cared about me. I could not fathom how Christians could be so blind and uninterested in the pain right before their eyes (a wake up call to all of us!!). After all, look “how much I had always cared for everyone else in my life.”
Well, see the problem?
If we are looking for others to fill our cup and meet our needs, we are looking the wrong direction. In fact, I kinda wonder if God hid my pain from others so I would learn the lesson I needed to learn. You see, we will never find that soul satisfaction that we desire by looking to others to meet our needs. Only God can satisfy our needs. We need to
learn to run to Him and be encouraged by His words and His presence. We need to run to Him with our needs and let Him meet every one of them.
He wants to help us. All we have to do is learn how to really encourage ourselves–by running to God!
Let Others Help You!
Ok, sound like I am talking out of both sides of my mouth? Just hang in there.
What I also found in my life was that after God had met my real need, I needed to learn to take off my mask and let others see the real me.
What really happened in retrospect was that no one really knew what they could do to help me. I needed to let them know what I really needed and accept what they could offer me with gratitude.
Once God showed me how to become whole again in Him, it was neat how He showed me how to let others help me. What they did for me could not fill the void in my life, but it sure could be the little blessing for my day. The big difference was my heart.
Our hearts cannot be satisfied by anyone or anything that they can do. They can only find that true satisfaction in relationship with God. However, after that is taken care of, we can abound with blessings from our relationships with our spouses, children, loved ones. We can overflow from the little things others do for us. We first have to go to the right source for filling the void in our hearts. Then, we have to be transparent about the things that we need from our husbands, children, and others. Then, watch out! The blessings pour from all of them.
Make Some Choices!
What do you want? Do you know that you are the architect of your life?
Your life is determined by what you decide.
I KNOW what those of you who are depressed are thinking right now. But, I have been where you are. The key to being set free from the pit was in my very own choices. Talk about the toughest thing I have ever done–making the tough choices and sticking with them regardless of
what happened around me. Tough! But, rewarding!
Can I ask you today to just consider one big question? What do you want? Do you want to stay where you are? Do you want to be free? Will you be pitiful, broken, a victim…or will you be powerful, used by
God, a victor? It is all about what you decide. Decide today! Decide what you want! Make it happen!
Do you really want to be wiped out, weary, defeated, discouraged, depressed? Do you really want to be impossible to please and have other live a life like you did as a little girl? Is it worth having “your say” to have that argument and feel guilt afterwards and have one more
thing to fix? Do you really want this for your life? For your family?
Well, make some choices today!
1. Walk away from strife! It takes two to tangle. Walk away. Let it go. It is not about who is right. It is who is the cleanest. Let it go. You are not ever going to prove to the other person that you are right by fighting with them. God knows who is right and who is wrong. That is enough. Let it go! Walk away! Don’t go there!
2. Make each moment count! This one thing has helped me SO much! I know what I really want. I ask myself, “Is THIS what I really want?” If it is an argument…or I am feeling grumpy…or I am irritated by something that I think I just can’t let go of…I ask myself, “Is THIS what I really want?” If not, I stop. I let it go. We only get each
moment ONE TIME. Is this how we want for it to be? If not, stop. Let it go. Make each moment really count!
3. Decide now–enough is enough! Do you really want this? Do you want depression? Do you want to change? Do you want LIFE? Do you really want to do something about this? Or, do you really like the temporal pleasure more? Want to be free? You have to decide now to let go! Let
go of the stinking thinking…your sorry, pitiful, whining
mouth…taking offense…fighting…strife…and your crazy
expectations. Decide now that you are not going to stay where you are. Decide now to do what it takes to get out of that pit and stay out! Decide now to make these struggles count instead of grumbling, feeling sorry for yourself, and accepting defeat. Make the choice today. What do you want? Your life is determined by your choice. Make the
choice today to let go and grasp for all Christ Jesus died to give you!
Come Back from the Pit!
John 10:10 says, ” The thief comes only in order to steal, kill, and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows).” (Amplified)
Depression is not life! It is not living! No one really enjoys
depression–even if they have made it their friend. You can’t. God has created you to enjoy life and to enjoy living. Real life, real living, is abundant, full, and overflowing. Christ came that you may live–have and enjoy life, have it in abundance, to the full, and till it overflows. Anything less is not living!
So, in the pit? Decide today to get out of that pit, never to return again! Come back from the pit! But how?
1. Don’t quit! Don’t give up! What if you knew that THIS was going to pass? What if you knew that you were not always going to be where you are? What if you knew that amazing times are on the horizon? Would you get up and run? Would you keep on keeping on? Take a look again at 2
Corinthians 4: 16-18 (The Message)…
“So, we are not giving up. How could we! Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without His unfolding grace. These hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times. the lavish celebration prepared for us. There’s far more here than meets the eye. The things we see now are here today, gone tomorrow. But the things that we can’t see now will last forever.”
Oh! This is not just for me. This is not just for others. This is FOR YOU! Don’t be trapped by your past! Don’t stay in pit! Don’t give up! Don’t quit! Don’t settle for where you are. It is WORTH the battle!
2. Run to God! Run TO Him…not away from Him. Tired, weary, don’t think you can go on? Run to Him. Snuggle up to Him! Let Him minister to your weary soul. Let Him restore you. Let Him loose to restore and rebuild your life. Run to God! You will find all you need!
3. Give it time! Oh beloved, you have not got here in a day. You are going to have to give it time–to break those bad habits you have developed of arguing, living stressed to the max, bursting out in anger, throwing fits, running away to your lovers. It is going to take a bit of time to get rid of those habits and build good habits, but it will come! It is also going to take a bit of time to renew your mind. It is going to take a while to get rid of your stinking thinking. You may not even realize “off” your mind is. It is going to take time to see your thoughts for what they are. It is going to take time to deprogram those destructive thoughts. It is going to take some time to replace those lies with truth, those fears with reality, those assumptions with real life. It is going to take time to get in the Word of God and find His answers for all of your problems so you can have the Word to help tear down strongholds that the enemy has built in
your life. It is going to take time for you to seek out God’s answers. So, give Him time to help you get back on track, to build good habits, and to renew your mind. Give it time!
4. Watch what you are doing! If you keep on doing what you are doing, you will keep on getting what you are getting. Watch what you are doing. Stop doing those things that keep you down, that keep you defeated, that take away the life that you want! Choose the good path,
regardless of how hard your flesh battles!
5. Decide now that you won’t ever go back there–or you will! And, there is no guarantee that it won’t be worse! I dabbled for years with indulging my bad moods…my times of negativity…my times of “suffering” and it eventually caught up with me. Each time it got worse and worse, until it finally was as bad as I hope it ever will be. I was in a pit and could not get out on my own. It was more than just a bad mood…it was more than just a bad attitude…it was the worse suffering I had ever experienced. I was so frustrated because I could not “think positive” to get out of it. It did not go away. I could not pray it away. I had dabbled with the enemy’s bait and I had been caught
in his big, deep pit of depression. As my Heavenly Father brought me out of the pit, He asked me a question that I now know was pivotal in my healing if I wanted for it to be permanent (and it has been). He asked me, “Do you want to be healed? Do you want to NEVER go back here again?” At the time, I had no idea how important that choice would be.
It determined whether I was healed or not. And, every day I live, it determines whether I stay away from that pit. So, I ask you, do you want to be free? Do you want to be healed? Your decision determines your healing. Decide now that you want to be healed and that you won’t ever go back!
6. Decide enough is enough! Do you want to change? Do you want to do something about this? Want to let go of stinking thinking, taking offense, that vile mouth, fighting, strife? When are you going to be put an end to it? When are you going to take the authority that you have? What will it take? What will it take to finally shut your mouth…to refuse to fight…to let someone else have their say without saying one word or defending yourself…to refuse to give in to your
sins again and again…to change what is going on? Decide today that enough is enough! Decide that you are not going to stay where you are! Decide that you will do what it takes to get out of that pit and stay out of that pit. Decide to take the time to learn what is needed to stay free!
7. Get your life back! Begin again! You can come back from the pit! get a fresh, new beginning today. Dream again. Go for those dreams again. Build your home. Build your legacy!
So, beloved…
What do you want? Is it worth the pain that you will endure as you allow God to rebuild your life? Is it worth the pruning that you need from all of those destructive habits?
Of course it is!
God has so much ahead for you. You cannot have it unless you let go of depression. So, what do you want?
You can be set free to live the abundant life that Christ died to give you. You can have that TODAY! Not just when you get to heaven–but,
TODAY!
Again, the question is, “Do you want to be free?” Do you want to be healed? Do you want to let go of depression? Do you want to let go of its way of life?
Beloved, I want to see you free. You can be free today! You can let go of this big “D” forever. How about today?
Need MORE Help?
Sure! Here are our recommended resources:
Books:
Oops! My Cup is Empty and My Coffee Pot is Broke Bible Study (included free in our Talk-a-Latte Study by that title)
Talk-a-Latte Studies:
Oops! My Cup is Empty and My Coffee Pot is Broke Bible Study
Let Go Seminar SeriesSecrets to Victorious Living by Lucia Claborn
Audios:
Say Goodbye to Super Mom! Would the Perfect Mother Please Step Forward??? Help! I am SO Tired and Weary Fill-R-Up! Taking Care of Mom! Let’s Simplify!
Oops! My Cup is Empty and My Coffee Pot is Broke!