Depression. Do I have your attention? If not, keep reading.
At some point, we have all dealt with sadness.
We all know someone who struggles.
We all face struggles.
Depression is described as a sunken pressed down feeling of hopelessness or inadequacy. There’s such a stigma to it. It’s taboo. A sign of weakness. No one wants to talk about it, but the truth is we all have felt it. Depression can form from on circumstances, mindsets created through life, or a chemical imbalance. Often, it’s a combination of these.
I’ve seen first-hand how powerful talking about it is, so here goes. My experience with it is a heavy paralyzed feeling accompanied with negative thinking and insecurities. My perspective on everything changes. A dear friend described it best as being “uncomfortable in my own skin.” That is me. It is not based on circumstance, but instead, a physical pulling down feeling while endless accusations consume my mind.
When I’m in it, all I want to do is shut down and make the voices stop. I want to crawl into a hole and hide. Not just for a moment, but for a very long time. Most often there’s no outward explanation as why to why I feel this way or what triggered it. As a result, more shame and self loathing take over.
Some of you can relate, but for others, it’s not so bad. This is when my flesh wants to say “I hate you” and be covered with jealousy and self pity for the day. But instead….
I choose to change my perspective and be thankful this is not a big issue for you. I praise God for blessing all of us with different strengths and struggles. They are blessings because there is a bigger purpose for them.
2 Corinthians 12:9 “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness. So now I am glad to boast about my weakness, so that the power of Christ can work through me.
For when I am weak, He is made strong. Therefore, I will boast in my weakness. This is my thorn. God’s way of calling me back and not letting me get too far away from Him in MY way of doing life. God, I receive your power to work in my weakness.
Right perspective shows me God uses my depressive tendencies for His good.
Seeing clearly reveals that God uses our weaknesses and struggles for what they were meant to be – a living testimony of God’s grace to a broken world!
APPLICATION: What is your struggle? Is it a form of depression, anxiety, worry, fear, doubt, shame, anger, pride, jealousy, insecurity, etc.? Is it a physical ailment or an addiction? We all have that “thing” that attempts to steal, kill and destroy. What is yours? And what are you going to do with it?
Identify. What consumes your thoughts? Is there something that you don’t want others to know about you? Pray for God to reveal it to you. Psalm 139:23 Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts!
Ask God for help. Psalm 18:6 In my distress I called upon the Lord; to my God I cried for help. From his temple he heard my voice, and my cry to him reached his ears.
Share. Transparency and vulnerability open the way for healing. Have you told someone about your struggle? Are you seeking help, encouragement and accountability from others? Ecclesiastes 4:12 A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.
Address. Do you hide or ignore it through busyness? Do you give into it over and over again? Do you let it control your life or happiness? Or do you bring it to the one who can take away the pain? Psalm 55:22 Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved.
Choose Life and Right Perspective. Deuteronomy 30:19Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live!