Dealing With Depression – Part 1
Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. James 5:17
Elijah, who’d been fearless for three years, became frightened when Jezebel threatened his life. So he ran to the desert, where he became depressed and announced, ‘I have had enough, LORD…Take my life’ (1 Kings 19:4). Elijah became a prime candidate for depression when he got physically tired, emotionally drained, and felt threatened. He was a basket case of emotional problems: fear, resentment, guilt, anger, loneliness, and worry. And the Bible says, ‘Elijah was a man just like us.’ He wrestled with the same problems we do. He got so depressed that he wanted to die! Why do we get ourselves into such emotional messes? Sometimes it’s because of what happens to us – bad circumstances that occur in our lives. But more often it’s due to faulty thinking. The truth is our emotions are generated by our thoughts, and when we think in destructive ways we are going to feel depressed. Our emotions spring from how we interpret life, and if you always see things from a negative viewpoint you’re going to get down. To rid yourself of harmful emotions you must learn to change the way you think. That’s why the Bible talks about being ‘transformed by the renewing of your mind’ (Romans 12:2). To overcome depression you must learn to correct your wrong thinking and attitudes about life. In the words of Jesus, when you ‘know the truth…the truth will set you free’ (John 8:32). Looking at things from the right point of view – God’s viewpoint – is the path to overcoming depression.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, transform my mind to look for and see all the wonderful things You are doing and HAVE done for me – and that You love me like no one ever could. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
Do you allow for the possibility of depression caused by imbalances in body chemistry, perhaps from medicines prescribed for other illnesses? In such cases, what you’ve said here is just going to make the person suffering from depression feel even worse. I think we need to be very careful about telling people they just need to fix the way they think. Easier said than done.
I didn’t take anything negative from this devation and boy am I dealing with depression. I believe that we should always use the word of God in conjunction with the treatments that Dr.’s and healthcare provide.