If you are like me, when you see or hear the word depression, you may cringe. The word alone brings a sense of sadness. Depression is such a scary word and thing! Depression is a daily war within the mind and heart of someone. It's cause does not have a specific rhyme or reason. It can be from one circumstance or multiple circumstances from life. Depression shows up when life does not happen the way we expect it to or desire it to. Depression is a lot like death. You're saddened by what once was or what will never be. It sometimes is a long journey. It has hard and tough roads to walk. It can be such a dark land. It truly is a valley. It is a lonely place to live. When someone lives in depression land, their vision is skewed by the darkness and negativity that surrounds them. Someone may put on a smile and hide the symptoms as best as they can. However, the darkness overshadows even the smallest amount of light or the good things that are such blessings in life. It is like you cannot see past negativity, the hurt, the disappointment, or the pain. The mind has a hard time focusing on anything good or positive. The person who is walking in that valley is so focused on the mountain top that it seems nothing good will come from the valley. The person who is fighting depression is trapped behind a locked door. Freedom is all around, yet feels so far away. It is like you are in a rut, a deep hole that you cannot climb out of. You try to climb out, but your mind is so consumed by negativity that your body becomes numb, so eventually one may stop trying all together. It feels like you might reach a point of no return. It seems as if life will always be dark, gloomy, or sad. Circumstances will not change, the rut gets muddier, and the hole only becomes deeper. I have been there. I have seen it first hand within myself and others. It is not a fun place to be in. No one desires to live in this land. There are many attempts to get out, however every failed attempt just adds up. There are so many people that fight this war. People that you would never suspect. Blessed people live here. Blessed people fight this daily. Blessed people see darkness and walk through valleys. Let me assure you that depression land is very real and the people that are living there are desperate for a way to move out. They want to return to joy, happiness, thankfulness, and light! Depression is exhausting! It is stressful. It is a daily struggle emotionally, physically, and mentally. It takes such a toll on the human body. Just remember there is hope! There is freedom! There is deliverance. The Lord has delivered me from depression. It tries to creep in from time to time but I have decided (in my mind and heart) that it is a place I am not going back to, no matter what! I may have to walk through another valley, but I will not live in depression land! When negative thoughts, feelings, or things bombard me, I pray and tell the Lord "I do not want to go back to that place. Help me to not go back down that road. Help me to be okay with not being okay. Remind me that there are lessons to learn here. There is beauty to behold in the valley. There are things that I will learn in the valley that I will never learn on the mountaintop. In the last few weeks and months, things have arose about people with depression. It has been heavy on my heart the last few days! My heart hurts for individuals and families that are in this war. I guess that is why I feel an urgency to share. My devotional yesterday was from Genesis 35:18. It says "And it came to pass, as her soul was in departing, that she called his name Benoni: but his father called him Benjamin."
"To every matter there is a bright as well as a dark side. Rachel was overwhelmed with the sorrow of her own travail and death; Jacob, though weeping the mother's loss, could see the mercy of the child's birth. It is well for us if, while the flesh mourns over trials, our faith triumphs in divine faithfulness...The stormy sea feeds multitudes with its fishes...the stormy wind sweeps away the pestilence, and the biting frost loosens the soil...A vein of good is to be found in every mine of evil...Faith's way of walking is to cast all care upon the Lord, and then to anticipate good results from the worst calamities...When death itself appears, faith points to the light of resurrection beyond the grave, thus making our dying Benoni to be our living Benjamin." - Bible for Women App
The enemy is using every scheme and trick possible to get to us, and depression land is one of those plots to keep someone from fulfilling their purpose in Christ. If he can skew your vision, then you're too distracted to do what God has called you to do and be who God has called you to be. He does not have much time to steal, kill, and destroy. However, he will not be victorious. John 10:10 gives us hope in that, "The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly." The Lord gives us hope and life. He came, he died, and rose again so that death and depression would not have victory in our lives. There is little life in depression land. The Lord gives us strategies and techniques to withstand the attacks of the enemy, the darkness, and the depression. Psalms 119:105 says "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path." We may not always understand why we are going through things, walking through valleys, seeing darkness, or suffering hardships, however we have hope in Christ. He sees the bigger picture. He will provide the escape. He will provide the light. He is the light in our darkness. Luke 1:7 says "To give light to those that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace." Romans 8:18 says "For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us." 2 Corinthians 1:6 also helps us to know "And whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we will also suffer: or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation." Romans 16:20 also tells us "The God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen." No one has to live in depression land. No one has to be bound by depression forever. There is an escape to the rut and pit. There is a mountaintop. No one is hopeless. There is victory through Jesus! What we may suffer does not compare to the glory that God has for us. He has all power in Heaven and in Earth. He gives us power! 2 Timothy 1:7 says "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." He gives us power over our thoughts. Just be determined to say "No!" "I am not going there." Turn your thoughts to something else. My boys love to watch people make knives. The process intrigues them. One of the guys that we were watching was a young veteran. He was saying that he got into making knives because it was a way of keeping his mind focused. He found a activity to help him through a difficult and dark time. It keeps his mind alert and fresh. It helps him to not dwell on negativity. It helps him to not live in depression land. I commended him for finding that technique. My technique is writing and helping others. I study the Word of God more to try and help others that are going through tough times. I have learned that the Lord may allow us to walk through valleys, however He will give us peace to protect our hearts and mind so that we do not live in depression land. We can put on the full armor of God each day to withstand the attacks of the enemy. Philippians 4:7 gives us hope in "And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." So, if you are fighting in the depression war, if you are seeing nothing but darkness, if you are feeling like there is no hope, if you are weary and tired from the stresses of this life, find you a quiet place where you can talk to the Lord. Talk to him like he's your best friend. He is the Counselor! Isaiah 9:6 calls him "...Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, and The Prince of Peace." Cry, vent, scream, or whatever you have to do to release the gloom you are feeling. Allow him to reveal His glory to you! If He can do it for me, He can do it for you!
Quote: Maybe you have to know the darkness before you can appreciate the light. - Madeline L'Engle
Prayer: Lord, thank you for your many blessings. Thank you for the opportunity to share your light and your love. I come before you today. Not on my behalf, but on the behalf of those that are fighting the war of depression within themselves and their families. I pray for those that are living in depression land or those that are on the verge of living in depression land. Life is so hard! It seems as if more and more people are struggling with anxiety and depression. Restore joy Lord! Heal hurts and hearts. Mend what has been broken. Help them to remember that you are the light in their darkness. Open blinded eyes so that they can see your light. Open their eyes to where they see the lily in the valley. Help them to remember that there is beauty in brokenness. Help them to see a glimpse of what you see. Extend grace to them who are really struggling. Give peace, peace that passes all understanding to overcome the negativity that they face. Comfort those that need to be comforted! Wrap your loving arms around them and fill their hearts with peace. Be a shield and fence about them. Send your angels to encamp around them. Help them to feel hope! Let these words give hope! Breathe life into those that are dead in their spirits. Help them to lay down their negative thoughts, worries, and the stresses of life. For those that are tense, I pray that you would help them to relax. For those that are dealing with loss, reveal yourself to them. Show them your glory! Help them to see beyond the grave! Give each person a determination to keep walking and to not give up. Pull them out of the pits. Clean the mud off of their souls from the pits. Unlock the doors. Let them experience freedom through you. Give rest to those that are weary. Guide them in every thought and every action. Help them to have control over their thoughts. Help them to handle the negativity the way that you desire. Help me to be sensitive to those that are struggling. Help me to remember that the strongest people sometimes fight the most difficult wars. Help us all to remember that this war. It is a daily struggle but you have given us victory. Thank you Lord for what you did on the cross. Thank you for rising from death, hell, and the grave so that we may have life and have life more abundantly. Let there be no depression in the valleys. In Jesus Name!
Thank you .