There is no cure for chronic depression I’ve been told. They can medicate it and treat it, but they cannot cure it. But there is a secret often not known or overlooked, which can be a cure of coping with it and not having to be medicated into a unnatural state of awareness. The cure’s name is Jesus Christ and his power to deliver us. Let me give you a situation in the Bible describing a group of people who were under severe, lingering depressive situations.
(2 Corinthians 1:8 – 11NIV) “…about the hardships we suffered in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life. Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. He has delivered us from this deadly peril, and he will deliver us…On Him (Jesus) we have set our hope…as you help us by your prayers.
Note they were suffering…under great pressure…in their estimation; beyond their ability to endure it…they; despaired even of life; they felt; under a death sentence! Note as well that Paul said, of this depressive state it was “Far beyond our ability to endure…Sounds like a case of chronic depression doesn’t it? Yet Paul and his group did not remain that way. Paul the apostle said, “He [Jesus] delivered us from this deadly peril.” God brought them out of depression. Our God is able to either heal us entirely of depression (as I have witnessed among some believers,) or deliver us to the point that we are in control of it; it no longer controls us.
Depression that drives us to drugs or substance abuse usually stems from deep concerns about our lives and the future. We see no hope of things getting better. We feel no hope of getting better. Sometimes we feel pinned in on every side with survival necessities, such as enough food for the family, enough money to pay our bills, strained family relations, divorce, the loss of our loved ones, etc. This can lead us to focus on thoughts such as, no one caring about us or our problems. We become overwhelmed mentally and think or focus in a limited, “tunnel like outlook on life.” Instead of a light at the end of the tunnel, it seems like a spiraling down hill chasm of darkness. Well I’m here to tell you there is a light at the end of the tunnel and it is not a train coming the other way! It is Jesus your Savior.
Paul the apostle understood this. If anyone deserved manic depression because of problems, Paul did. Plagued with depression because of the pressures of life and ministry; infirmed with a disease that God refused to heal; (2 Corinthians 12:7 – 9); having to go hungry at times, sleepless at times, living in want at times; yet Paul learned about living in this life and coping when life came swinging out with both fists to batter his hope and faith. Paul’s testifies to this secret of how he learned to handle depression. Here it is: (Philippians 4:11b – 13) “…for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need… I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him [Jesus] who gives me strength.”
Note that Paul said first, “I have learned to be content…” And again he reinforced this secret, “I have learned the secret…” This indicates to us that coping with depression is a learning process from God. Paul then tells us the secret of overcoming depression. I have learned “I can do everything (Every thing life throws at me in my emotions and thinking) “…through him who gives me strength…” The secret is the knowledge and know how of God’s strength. What is the “more” of this secret that causes it to work? The more is that God has strength available to us if we believe in him; multifaceted power; spiritual strength, mental strength, and physical strength as we lean on his presence and word.
There are some steps that will aid you in reaching God and overcoming depression. Step one: You must first have a salvation relationship with Jesus and seek to become filled with the Spirit and his power (Acts 1:8). Step two: Begin a learning process of reading and studying God’s word in areas of healing and encouragement. Step three: Become immersed in Christ and a good church, and develop a habit of daily prayer. Step four: Have others praying for you and encouraging you. Begin to read and learn about God’s inner strength from scripture; about how that you and Christ can handle everything through him, including depression. Depression will then either leave or will slowly give way to where you begin to handle it instead of it handling you.
I will be praying for all of you that deliverance is now beginning in your life!
Pastor Jim
This series will be continued next month
