Dumping the Dumps ~ Lifting Depression

How does fully understanding the purpose of Jesus Christ help lift us out of the doldrums of the world? Depression is widely talked among people from all walks of life.  It is a common household word; but do we understand it and do we really know how to escape its pressure pushing down on our hearts? Depression is much more than sadness.  It may involve anger, hurt, unhealthy feelings about ourselves or how we respond to those around us. Often it manifests itself in our thinking as a sense that the worst part of us may be what we are all about.

Frequently depression is a reaction to oppression of some sort. This world swirls around offering all of its lures and cures that do not help us at all and tend to make things worse.  I look at all God has created and it is easy to see that God really wants us free and blessed. When one looks at God's word from his point of view, it flings open the doors on a shuttered heart to the extent that one becomes aware of an incredible joy that just won't leave. The most important thing you can learn in your life is who God is, that he is full of mercy and grace and loves us beyond measure.

There is evil in this world. Evil gets a foothold where God is not allowed. The battleground is in our own minds. It is hard walking around this world to not be bombarded by things that God never intended us to deal with. So why do we? God gave us free will. We can either accept or reject him. He can be found when we look.  He is in the creation (Romans 1:20). He also had his Word put into print:

He sent his word, and healed  them, and delivered them from their destructions. Psalm 107:20

God also gave us his son who lived and walked this earth displaying the heart of God. He was a man who was a healer and forgiver. He spoke the truth in love and he showed us the way of a how we can connect with the Father and have the resurrected freedom God wants for us:

14 Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and might free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives. Hebrews 2:14-15

God also gave us the gift of holy spirit to provide comfort, guidance, strength, reassurance and the all truth that is so freeing. God has freely given us all the enablements we need. As far as God is concerned, the past is over, we can handle today and the future is bright!

For cloudy times the best practical and simple thing we can do is:

8 Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah. Psalm 62:8

The heart may take a little melting before it can be poured. That part is up to you to think through all the resources God has given you and do that work. It might involve talking to God, reading a great book like Ephesians or something else that lifts your mind

I have a little notebook that I write down all the wonderful things God has done for me. I even like to write down the great things God is doing for others. Often I just open it up and read it  and I am reminded of real things and I marvel all over again.  It drowns out the noise of this world completely.