In our christian walk there are low times and there are high times. The word says there will be hills and valleys, none of us wants to feel like we are at the bottom of the Dead Sea though. But there are times when we feel ourselves lower than low, resting in the belly of the big fish so to speak. There are many believers who say that the darkness cannot dwell with the light and we should not experience depression. I am not one of them obviously. I believe that because we have expereinced such marvelous highs, beyond the world's comprehension, that when we come off those highs we feel the abyss of darkness even more strongly if we are not grounded in God's word.
Depression comes when we withdraw ourselves from the light of His presence, we know we are in darkness when He is not there, or so we think. The enemy is trying to play tricks on us and cause us to loose our peace in God. He will do anything to defeat us. And more often than not, believers are caught off guard, because they have been taught they have no reason to be depressed, so they try to cover it up and go on. When we lie to ourselves and God we merely intensify the problem. We were designed to have intimacy with God, how can we have intimacy if we hidei our true feelings from Him. We never need to cover any of our true feelings from Him, He made us and knows every part of us. Nothing shocks Him. When we hide things from Him we widen the gap between us and darkness sets in. In Mattew 6:23, Christ said, "If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!" Wow, Jesus must have understood how low man can sink when left to his own devices. We are people of light...when the darkness does come in, how great is the darkness! The truth of the matter is, when we are so immersed in the holiness of God and intimacy with Him, Satan cannot reach us, but when we come down and we do, he (the enemy)is always there to greet us.
Depression, when denied and allowed to linger is a stronghold. Strongholds are demolished by Spirit empowered prayer coupled with the word of God. Praise and worship is especially important in breaking down this stronghold. It ushers us back into the very presence of God Almighty. In that place of intimacy with the Father we can express our true feelings and know that He has sent His Son to overcome the world for us. We have the victory through His blood. He, through His vicarious sacrifice, has caused us to become overcomers in Him.
In order to combat depression we must not allow ourselves to be outside the sheepfold where wolves can come in and devour us. On our own we are powerless to overcome the enemy, but with God we defeat him. It is vitally important that we find those who will lift us up in prayer and pray with us. Gather intercessors to your side or in the Spirit. Guard your heart and your mind, stay alert and stay in fellowship with God. Tell Him how you feel and why, then leave it with Him.
Allow these scriptures to sink into your spirit..reading them once is not enough. Sin is rehearsed the Bible tells us and so is righteousness. Rehearse these scriptures until they become a part of you and you will begin to recognise where you got off the path. And He will also show you how to get back on and stay there. From this point on you will begin to recognise the deceptions of the enemy that bring on the depression as well.
Lord, help me not to fear, for You are with me; I need not be dismayed, for You are my God. You will stengthen me and help me. You will uphold me with Your righteous right hand. (Is. 41:10)
Lord God, I cry out to You. My spirit grows faint within me; my heart within me is dismayed. (Ps. 143:4)
God, You who comfort the downcast, please comfort me by sending one of Your own to minister to me. (2 Cor. 7:6) If indeed I will not become more dependent on that one than on you.
The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on you, Christ, because the Lord has anointed You to preach good news to the poor. He has sent You to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn. and provide for those who grieve in Zion--to bestow on us a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning , and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. We will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of His splendor. We will rebuild the anceint ruins and restore the place long devasted, we will renew the cities that have been devastated for generations. (Is. 61:1-4) Lord, pour upon me the oil of gladness and cover me with a garment of praise!
God, You will give me the treasures of darkness, riches stored in secret places, so that I may know that you are the Lord, the God of Israel, who summons me by name, (Is. 3) Lord, even in this difficult place, You have treasures for me here. You want me to discover the riches of relationship withYou that will set me free from this place.
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