Dealing with Depression

I kind of feel odd writing about this topic today. Like many, I have struggled with depression on and off in my life. Some times it has been because of circumstances in my life, and then there are the times I just feel an overwhelming sense of sadness for no reason that I can identify. I am familiar with those feelings of loneliness, despair, and the lack of motivation to do anything. I have been so down, I felt as though I couldn't even move. Maybe you know how that feels. Maybe you are feeling that way right now.

In 2 Corinthians 1:8-9a, Paul's expressions lead me to believe that he and his companions were experiencing depression of some kind. I don't know what the circumstances were, but they seemed to be struggling nonetheless. He used phrases like, "we were burdened excessively, beyond our strength, so that we despaired even of life" and "we had the sentence of death within ourselves so that we would not trust in ourselves". When I read those words, I can only imagine how heavy his heart must have been to write those things.

However, if you read on, in verses 9b and 10, he talks about his belief that God was delivering them and how he looked forward to continued deliverance from their "peril". Then, in verse 11, Paul reveals what I think was/is another key component in their deliverance, and that is, the PRAYERS that were lifted up on their behalf from OTHERS.

So, I came to the conclusion, that when battling depression, we have to do two things to help ourselves. First, we have to BELIEVE that God will deliver us. We have to acknowledge that God can do anything, and that He loves us. Because of that, God will see our belief and answer our prayers and petitions for relief. This is hard for us. I get that. When we are so low that we can barely move or think, it takes all our effort to do anything. In those moments, I encourage you to read your Bible, and hear the words of God. Psalms is usually the place I start when I am like that.

Secondly, we need OTHERS to PRAY for us. This step is also hard for the depressed for several reasons. 1) Depression tends to make us isolate ourselves. We may just not want to put out the effort, or we are embarrassed we are depressed in the first place. Many times, we don't think others will understand. 2) Our pride tends to keep from telling others we are depressed. We don't want others to see our weakness, or we feel we should be able to handle this on our own. 3) Many of us dislike asking others for help. We feel weak, and that just intensifies our depressed state. And 4) Sometimes we either don't have anyone to reach out to or at least it sure seems that way.

So, I appeal to you, that if you are dealing with depression, first, DO BUSINESS with God. You have to come to a place where you BELIEVE He cares about you and wants to lift you up. Read your Bible and pray even when it is hard.

Secondly, REACH OUT TO OTHERS. ASK them to pray for you for healing and freedom from your depression. Don't assume they know that you need their prayers. Let them know what is really going on in your life so they know what to pray for. Ask them to pray WITH you, even if it over the phone. Sometimes the act of praying with someone is so edifying and uplifting. It is hard to do this, maybe because we feel so vulnerable, but as Paul attests, the prayers offered for him brought "favor" from God.

Now, some of you may really feel you have no one to turn to in your life. Maybe you are so isolated, you wouldn't even know where to start. So, for you, I encourage you to go to church. Yes, this will require effort on your part, but if you have already done business with God and are praying, you can ask for the strength to do this as well. Ask the pastor to pray for you. Go up to the alter call when they ask people to come forward to be prayed for. People don't need to know you well to pray for you.

Likewise, you can appeal to God's Holy Spirit. It says in Romans 8:26 that the Spirit will help us in our weakness when we don't know how to pray as we should. I find that very comforting, because many times, I am so down, I don't even know what to pray for anymore.

For the record, I know that depression is brutal. I am by no means trying to minimize the devastating effects of it. Sometimes we may find that we also need help from other resources that God has blessed this earth with like medicines and counselors. If that is where you find yourself at this time, then that is a good thing. I encourage you to continue to seek that help. But just remember, that a HUGE part of crawling out of that pit of despair should include God, others, and prayer.