Victory Over Depression (3)

When we live in depression our number-one enemy is our emotions. We tend to be led by how we feel, but feelings are unreliable.  They change from day to day and they often don’t convey the truth or at least the complete truth.  We have needs, including emotional needs.  Our emotional state gets depleted for a variety of reasons.  When we feel low we do not have to withdraw and believe there is no solution in sight or no source of comfort and strength to draw on.  Rather, we can allow these feelings to draw us close to God’s heart and allow Him to embrace and comfort us.

As for me, I look to the Lord for help.  I wait confidently for God to save me, and my God will certainly hear me.  Do not gloat over me, my enemies!  For though I fall, I will rise again.  Though I sit in darkness, the Lord will be my light. (Micah 7:7-8 NLT)

Acknowledging the truth of any negative feelings we have to God, and asking for His help, will bring His wisdom into the situation, together with healing, encouragement and blessing.  When we awaken in a day feeling tired or discouraged, we should not fall into the devil’s trap of telling ourselves "I feel depressed, or, it’s too hard for me to face this day."  God invites us to look at the very same feelings and say, “God, I feel tired and discouraged so I place myself into your care. Comfort and strengthen me in my innermost being.  Fill me to overflowing with a sense of Your goodness.  Thank You Lord that Your unfailing love and tender mercy will pursue me this day.”

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.  Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.   (Psalm 23:5-6 NIV)

We will always have feelings, but we can make our feelings line up with our decisions. That's why God gives us the fruit of self-control. The Bible tells us, Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. (James 4:7 NIV)  We resist depression and anything that resembles it because it is of the devil. God also tells us: Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! (Philippians 4:4 NIV)

If we stay filled with the right thing, there is no room available for the wrong thing. This is not being fake.  It’s not suppressing what’s real.  It’s taking ourselves, all that we are, good and not so good, to our loving Heavenly Father for His help and blessing.  It’s about surrendering ourselves to His love and care.

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