When does sadness, loneliness, stress, and for some anxiety step over the line and become depression? I have suffered with varying degrees of depression for most of my life and have dealt with it in many different ways from doctor prescribed medication, counseling, suicidal thoughts, self-help book reading, excessive drinking, shopping, sleeping, and binge eating. None of the before mentioned methods had lasting results let alone were they healthy. I’m excited to share what I’ve learn and how my life has changed.
I know and believe with all my heart that Satan is at the core of depression. Satan has the ability to twist true feelings and situations into dark places. I’m no stranger to abuse, loss, physical illness and financial worry. Satan’s twist makes you feel failure, guilt, anger, worthless and hopeless…your feelings out of control cause you to begin spiraling down.
If you believe in God and with that I mean Jesus Christ our Savior who has given us His Word “The Bible” you must also believe in Satan. Understanding and believing this TRUTH is key in fighting depression. If your reading this post and do not know Jesus Christ as your personal Savior I strongly suggest you seek out the truth found in Christ and make a commitment to Him. You can find answers and help at a local church. A small aside…make sure the church you chose teaches from the Bible in its whole and believes in the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Unfortunately, some churches have fallen away from these core beliefs and have become lost serving man instead of Jesus Christ.
For more than 40 years I struggled with depression without lasting help. Only through my personal relationship with Jesus is Satan losing the battle of holding me in darkness. So what happened simply put I started turning every thought I had over to Jesus and measuring those thoughts by His Word to determine whether they are true. Though scripture I’m able to look at my feelings, thoughts and circumstances. Jesus helps me find truth and I’m able to separate the lies Satan would have me believe about myself and any circumstance. I wish I could tell you this is an easy process but your past has a toll on your beliefs. Destructive past experiences and possibly your life at this moment can contribute to holding you in darkness and giving Satan the fuel to keep you depressed. Jesus gives strength, clarity and most importantly freedom from Satan’s grip.
The best way for me to explain what I mean is by example. During those long years of fighting depression without Jesus I have found myself in what I call “THE CRYING CORNER”. This feeling is crippling, I found myself very emotional many times in my bedroom down in the corner weeping uncontrollably. Most of the time it was life circumstances that brought me there. In my mind NO WAY OUT was consuming me. Trapped in a marriage with a man who mentally and physically was abusing my sons and me. My self-esteemed destroyed by Satan though this man and my childhood. I thought I deserved where I was in the “crying corner”.
Day to day life became a struggle. I performed my duties as a mother and wife with a deep depression just below the surface. I missed many opportunities for joy and I let those I cared about down. One such day I had been asked by a dear friend I had know for years to be maid of honor in her wedding I was so lost the day of her wedding I just didn’t show up. She never spoke to me again. How could I have done that? My life on that day and the days leading up to it were dark. I was being manipulated by Satan through my husband which made me unable to leave my home. Days like this were common.
Then I was introduced to Jesus and His Word in a new way. You see the Bible is not an historical account of God’s people nor is it bedtime stories. Every Word is for you today and everyday. Salvation is not just for “getting into heaven”. Salvation by definition is “Preservation or deliverance from destruction, difficulty, or evil.” What Jesus did for me by dying on the cross was deliverance.
The Bible became my go to place in battling Satan and depression. Through scripture, prayer and the power of the Holy Spirit my life began to change. I got involved at my church and began praying for the Lord to show me what changes I needed to make, those changes began with surrendering my life to Christ.
I began with these scriptures:
“For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12 NIV
“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” Philippians 4:8 NIV
“We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” 2 Corinthians 10:5
Jesus wants to set you free. He died for you so that you would no longer be trapped by the world but would have the power through him to set yourself apart from Satan’s destructive ways.
My prayers are for you! Discover your own scriptures, build a army of God’s Word to fight against evil.
Laurie
Instructions For Life According to Jesus Christ 