1. Depression is a heavy burden and feels insurmountable.
Psalm 13.2 How long shall I take counsel in my soul, having sorrow in my heart daily? how long shall mine enemy be exalted over me?
Psalm 88. 1-5.
1 O LORD God of my salvation, I have cried day and night before thee:
2 Let my prayer come before thee: incline thine ear unto my cry;
3 For my soul is full of troubles: and my life draweth nigh unto the grave.
4 I am counted with them that go down into the pit: I am as a man that hath no strength:
5 Free among the dead, like the slain that lie in the grave, whom thou rememberest no more: and they are cut off from thy hand.
Psalm 109.22 For I am poor and needy, and my heart is wounded within me.
Proverbs 18.14 Yea, he sent out his arrows, and scattered them; and he shot out lightnings, and discomfited them.
2. God understands despair.
Psalm 38.9 Lord, all my desire is before thee; and my groaning is not hid from thee.
Job 23.10But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.
Matthew 26.38 Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me.
Psalm 18.28 For thou wilt light my candle: the LORD my God will enlighten my darkness.
3. God is the answer to a young person in despair.
Psalm 43.5 Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.
Psalm 46.1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
Psalm 16.11 Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.
John 14.27Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
4. God is big enough to keep a person from sinking further into depression.
Psalm 69. 13-15 But as for me, my prayer is unto thee, O LORD, in an acceptable time: O God, in the multitude of thy mercy hear me, in the truth of thy salvation.
14 Deliver me out of the mire, and let me not sink: let me be delivered from them that hate me, and out of the deep waters.
15 Let not the waterflood overflow me, neither let the deep swallow me up, and let not the pit shut her mouth upon me.
Isaiah 43.1-2 But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine.
Psalm 32.5-8 I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah.
6 For this shall every one that is godly pray unto thee in a time when thou mayest be found: surely in the floods of great waters they shall not come nigh unto him.
7 Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance. Selah.
8 I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.
5. God provides hope and comfort.
Psalm 16.8 I have set the LORD always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.
2 Corinthians 1.3-4 Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;
4 Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.
Ephesians 1. 17-19 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:
18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,
19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,
20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,
21 Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:
22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,
23 Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.
Hebrews 12.2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
6. Is it possible that sin is the cause of this depression? Cain was depressed because of sin in his life.
Genesis 4. 6-7And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen?
7 If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.
7. When sin is the cause of depression, confession must take place to begin the healing process.
Psalm 32. 3-5 When I kept silence, my bones waxed old through my roaring all the day long.
4 For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me: my moisture is turned into the drought of summer. Selah.
5 I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah.
Psalm 25. 17-18 The troubles of my heart are enlarged: O bring thou me out of my distresses.
18 Look upon mine affliction and my pain; and forgive all my sins.
Psalm 51- David prays for remission of sins, which he confesses fully
To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came unto him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba.
2 Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
3 For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.
4 Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.
5 Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.
6 Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.
7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
8 Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.
9 Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
11 Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.
12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.
13 Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.
14 Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness.
15 O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise.
16 For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering.
17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.
18 Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion: build thou the walls of Jerusalem.
19 Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering and whole burnt offering: then shall they offer bullocks upon thine altar.
Wrote on Dec. 9, 2008 at 8:13 PM
I have suffered with chronic depression since early adolescent years due to chronic pain due to early onset osteoarthritis and a severe case of scoliosis. I now have added to the mix of physical disabilities: fibromyalgia/myofascial pain syndrome, cervical spondolosis, birth defects in both knees (bones), asthma, and now heart problems! These medical conditions feed the depression and the depression feeds off the physical disfunctions of my body! Depression is a chemical embalance of the brain. No matter what the cause of the depression it is real!
HOWEVER, I do believe that with prayer, a close walk with the LORD, and a circle of believers around you... you can overcome the HUMP (if you will) to get through.
I do not, nor does this ministry take DEPRESSION lightly! IF you are feeling like hurting yourself... PLEASE contact someone immediately! There is nothing worth taking your own life!
I too have seen the days in past times, pre-GOD in my heart, that I have attempted suicide. I can tell you now... 8 years since last attempt... the DEVIL would love you to go ahead and take your life! BUT our Father loves you so much HE gave HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON to this world and allowed HIM to die here on this earth... to defeat the Devil for you and me! Tell the DEVIL to take a hike! The price has already been paid for you!
I would also remind you that the Devil even tried to get Jesus Christ to kill himself in the temptation of which he endured for 40 days and nights! Jesus Christ didn't take the Devil up on it... and HE had the power to RESURRECT even... but it wasn't in the plan of God to go down like that... and while your and my name might not be written in the HOLY BIBLE... I do believe that per our profession of faith... our names are in the BOOK OF LIFE and that is worth hanging around in this hellish life until Jesus comes back or the LORD see's fit to make your load lighter...
Please take the time to read in your Bible the following passage anytime you feel like you are alone in your particular trouble and would really like to give up... it does help get you through!
There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.God bless you all....
and again if you should need help there is NO SHAME in asking for help... lean on a friend, pastor, family member, councelor... but don't... whatever you do... listen to the ole Devil! Amen.
Why I thought it was so important to write this was so others can identify either for themselves OR loved ones going through these tough times and know what the Bible really does say in addressing this problem. It is so important for intervention if someone is suicidal especially. NEVER take for granted that person is just going to be alright. Make sure by letting them know they are loved and would be missed if they weren't with us. I know that is what has helped me in those dark hours. I love you all.. and if you are suffering with depression and need help please reach out to someone somewhere today and don't put it off. Depression is real. And there is no stereotype here and shouldn't be anywhere. God loves you and that is all that really really matters!!! OK well and the fact Jesus Christ died for you so that you might live!