By Brian Nixon, Special to ASSIST News Service
ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO (ANS – Feb. 9, 2015)
-- It's a dark pool; sometimes the water rises like a wave and
overwhelms you, sometimes you manage to swim, but your feet are always
wet.
It's
a black dog, sometimes pulling at the leash, sometimes biting your
hand, sometimes sitting in the corner, but it's always there.[1]
Sadness. Anger. Irritable.
Frustrated. Tired. Disinterested. Anxious. Guilty. While everyone
experiences these emotions at some point, what if you can't move past
them? What if you don't feel anything at all? That change in sleeping
habits, those feelings of worthlessness, that difficulty concentrating
or remembering? If you're stuck in any or all of these, you may suffer
from depression.[2]
And you wouldn’t be alone. If
the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) is correct, nine
percent of the adult population suffers from depression.[3]
A study released by the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report shared other statistics:[4]
· 8% of persons 12 years or older (6% of males and 10% of females) report current depression.
· Females have higher rates of depression than males in every age group.
· Males aged 40–59 years have higher rates of depression (7%) than males 60 years or older (5%).
· Females aged 40–59 years have
higher rates of depression (12%) than females aged 12–17 years (8%) and
females 60 years or older (7%).
Furthermore, according to WebMD:[5]
· Older people reported less
major depression, the CDC says, with only 1.6% of people aged 65 and
older reporting depressive episodes.
· 5.9% of people without health insurance reported depressive episodes, compared to 2.9% of people with insurance coverage.
· 6.6% of people who said they were previously married, or never married, reported some depression, vs. 2.2% of married people.
· 9.8% of people who were
unemployed and 22.2% of those unable to work reported depressive
periods, compared with 3% of homemakers and students, 2% of people with
jobs, and 1.6% of retirees.
· 4% of non-Hispanic blacks
reported depression, 4% of Hispanics, 4.3% of non-Hispanic people of
other races, and 3.1% of non-Hispanic whites.
What the statistics demonstrate
is that depression is a common reality—regardless of sex, race, or age
group. Depression is an equal opportunity provider; it can happen to
anyone.
And sadly, depression can lead
to deeper problems, including suicide, cutting, and drug abuse.[6]
Concerning the later, Dr. David Brendal writes for ABS News, “There is a
very close relationship between depression and substance abuse in
adults. The two conditions are highly comorbid, which is to say that
they occur together in an extremely high percentage of individuals.
There are a number of different ways that this occurs. Substance abuse
can cause depression and depression can cause substance abuse.”[7]
Maybe you suffer from
depression. Maybe you believe that depression is something that
Christians shouldn’t experience, adding extra guilt to your life. But
this is not the case. Christians do suffer from depression. We are
human, not spiritual robots. Pastor Skip Heitzig observed in his booklet
Overcoming Depression that “Christians are not immune to
depression.”[8]
The good news is that Jesus
loves the broken and depressed. Jesus died for the brokenhearted, the
outcasts, the wounded. Jesus loves you and yearns for you to turn to Him
in moments of dejection, despair, and despondency—in all times, really:
in moments of fear, joy, trust, and pleasure. Jesus wants us in any
condition, in any state, and at any moment.
Define
The Oxford English Dictionary
defines depression as “feelings of severe despondency and dejection.”[9]
Dr. Daniel K. Hall-Flavin, writing for the Mayo Clinic, gives more
information: “Depression ranges in seriousness from mild, temporary
episodes of sadness to severe, persistent depression. Clinical
depression is the more severe form of depression, also known as major
depression or major depressive disorder. It isn't the same as depression
caused by a loss, such as the death of a loved one, or a medical
condition, such as a thyroid disorder.”[10]
In another article for the Mayo
Clinic, depression is defined as “a mood disorder that causes a
persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest…it affects how you
feel, think and behave and can lead to a variety of emotional and
physical problems. You may have trouble doing normal day-to-day
activities, and depression may make you feel as if life isn't worth
living.”[11]
Discover
Knowing that many people in the
Bible fought depression can produce empathy among Christians and dispel
the idea that Christians can't or shouldn't be depressed. Godly men and
women have fought this very real emotional state of being. Men such as
Job, Samuel's mother Hannah, David, Isaiah, Jeremiah, the apostle Paul,
and others faced depression at some point, often in the midst of serving
God.
Here's a small sampling of heart-cries and encouragement for the broken and depressed:
Psalm 16:7-8: ”I will bless the
LORD who has given me counsel; my heart also instructs me in the night
seasons. I have set the LORD always before me; because He is at my
right hand I shall not be moved.”
Psalm 42:5-6: “Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you
disquieted within me? Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him for
the help of His countenance. O my God, my soul is cast down within me;
therefore I will remember You.”
Psalm 73:26: “My flesh and my heart fail; but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”
Proverbs 3:5-6: “Trust in the
LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all
your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.”
2 Corinthians 4:8-9: “We are
hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not
in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not
destroyed.”
Isaiah 41:10: “Fear not, for I
am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you,
yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.”
Psalm 34:17-18: “The righteous
cry out, and the LORD hears, and delivers them out of all their
troubles. The LORD is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves
such as have a contrite spirit.”
Psalm 102:1-11: “A Prayer of the
afflicted, when he is overwhelmed and pours out his complaint before
the LORD. Hear my prayer, O LORD, and let my cry come to You. Do not
hide Your face from me in the day of my trouble; incline Your ear to me;
in the day that I call, answer me speedily. For my days are consumed
like smoke, and my bones are burned like a hearth. My heart is
stricken and withered like grass, so that I forget to eat my bread.
Because of the sound of my groaning my bones cling to my skin. I am
like a pelican of the wilderness; I am like an owl of the desert. I
lie awake, and am like a sparrow alone on the housetop. My enemies
reproach me all day long; those who deride me swear an oath against me.
For I have eaten ashes like
bread, and mingled my drink with weeping, because of Your indignation
and Your wrath; for You have lifted me up and cast me away. My days
are like a shadow that lengthens, and I wither away like grass.”
Isaiah 26:3: “You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.”
Matthew 11:28: “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”
1 Peter 5:7: “Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.” (NLT)
Develop
In his forthcoming booklet on
depression, Pastor Skip Heitzig helps the Christian develop a plan,
offering practical and biblical insight. Pastor Skip writes,
“If you are experiencing
depression, or are reaching out to someone who is, there are many great
resources to assist you. I've mentioned a short booklet I wrote several
years back that gives practical and Biblical advice. Using the life of
Elijah as example, I recommend exercise and rest; change of emotional
and mental perspectives; and setting realistic expectations.[12]
“My friend Josh McDowell has a
wonderful book called Handbook on Counseling Youth that provides great
insight—both biblically and medically—into a host of problems people
face, including depression. I also recommend Dr. Martin Lloyd-Jones’
book, Spiritual Depression.
“I've also been exposed to
practical counsel from other Christian teachers and authors. My only
piece of advice is that any insight you get from people be both
biblically based and medically supported.”
Your understanding of depression
should form the basis of a plan to reach a person with the love of God,
whether it is someone you know or someone you have yet to meet. Use the
acronym LOVE as a guide:
L is for
listen. Listen to people. Get to know the co-worker or relative on a
personal level. Don’t offer any advice until you’ve listened. Listen
with generosity and genuine interest. Let them explain how they feel and
why.
O—Offer
Support: Let your friends and family know you are there for them to
talk, pray, wrestle with the issues, and stand with them through all the
ups and downs of dealing with brokenness and depression. Let them know
that they don’t have to capitulate to social pressure and internal
desire and that you are there in a supportive role. As a Christian,
offer them a chance to hear the gospel and respond, even if it’s with a
weak faith. Jesus repairs and restores our brokenness if we want to be
made well.
V—Voice God’s
Truth. Don’t be fearful of the truth, nor embarrassed by it. Read up on
this subject and have the guts and compassion to speak openly about it.
Certainly the heart of the gospel is love—the love of God in Christ to
rescue any who turn to Him in faith. God accepts us just as we are but
He loves us too much to leave us the way we are. Jesus loves people (and
therefore so must we), but He accepts those who repent and believe in
Him, not those who persist in living their way.
E is for
esteem. All people deserve some level of respect simply because they
have been made in the image of God, however marred that image may be. To
esteem another person doesn’t mean you must agree with them or side
with them on a particular subject, but it means that you voice and show
your respect as a living testimony that you belong to Christ.
Another acronym that summarizes some key thoughts on moving through brokenness and depression is REST:
R—Relationships. Surround yourself with loving,
caring Christians. Have them pray for you and encourage you. Allow your
godly relationships help with priorities and the problems of life.
E—Exercise.
With a doctor’s approval, find something to do physically. Work toward
relieving the stress with good, old-fashioned sweat.
S—Scripture. Turn to the Bible to find comfort and answers. Allow God to speak to you through His word.
T—Trust. You
must place yourself squarely in God’s hands, trusting Him to help you
overcome all the trials of life—including depression. Trust is based on
faith, not certainty. As the psalmist said in Psalm 42 and 43, “Hope in
God.” Jesus put it this way: “Seek first the kingdom of God.” Trust that
the King of the kingdom knows His citizens and will care for them. Give
your worries, your anxieties, your fears, your sorrows, over to Jesus;
He has it under control, paid for by a crown of thorns[13] that will one
day be for the Christian the crown of life.[14]
To learn more about the Jesus Loves People series, click here: www.jesuslovespeople.com
[6] http://www.webmd.com/depression/guide/untreated-depression-effects[8] Heitzig, Skip. Overcoming Depression. Connection Communications, 1998.
[12] Heitzig, Skip. Overcoming Depression. Connection Communications, 1998.
[13] Matthew 27:29
[14] Revelation 2:10. Also read Revelation 21 and 22.
Photo caption: Depression (www.webmd.com)
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