Free From Depression

"It was no big deal for Peter to try walking on water," the man said. "He was a fisherman--obviously a good swimmer. If he sank, he'd just swim out. I'm like that. If I see I'm getting in over my head in my business, it's no big deal. I can always swim out." His faith was in self until one day God said, "I'm going to let you get so far from the shore that you'll never be able to swim back."

Many Christians think like this. They operate on effective flesh power. And because they have been able to keep their arms and legs flailing, they've never experienced total defeat. But, when the currents have carried you far from shore and your trusted skills fail you, you'll be vulnerable to depression. If you have this problem, don't despair! Your loving Father wants to show you how to stop placing your faith in the wrong object--self or others. Christ alone must be your primary source if you are to be liberated from depression.

I believe a practitioner who always treats depression as the problem is missing the mark. Just as fever is but a symptom of the root cause, depression is usually symptomatic. The data show that less than 5% of depressed folks have physically induced depression caused by such things as PMS, hypoglycemia, diabetes, hormonal imbalance, thyroid or blood sugar problems, etc. [source for this figure must be provided] Such people must address their physical problem prior to seeking spiritual counseling lest they be blocked from appropriating it by their physical condition. I believe, however, that the remaining 95+% are prime candidates for experiencing victory over depression through proper spiritual counsel.

Let's work backward from the symptom, depression, to its source. A depressed person is hostile; a hostile person is frustrated; a frustrated person is not getting a need met. If we can identify that need and show him how Christ is to satisfy it, recovery becomes a viable option. Satisfying the unmet need will defuse the depression. What is that unmet need? It's his God-given need to be loved or his fleshly need to be in control. The first is good; the last is sin.

Depression is reflected in one or more of these three facets of the thought life:

(1) Self-condemning thoughts: I hate myself! I always mess up! or, I don't blame them for rejecting me. It's my fault!

(2) Low self-esteem thoughts: understand why they don't love me. They've discovered what I have always known. I'm unlovable!

(3) Pity-party thoughts: It's her fault! If she'd just try as hard as I do! Or, God, I don't deserve this! Or, if only I had this--if only I hadn't lost that. Or, if they (or God) would just do it my way!

When circumstances are conducive to doing so, such thoughts are served up to your mind through your flesh by the power of sin using first-person singular pronouns so they'll appear as your own thinking.* You must reject such thoughts! God commands you to "fix your mind on those things that are true, right and pure...." [Phil 4:8:9].You are doing just the opposite and that is why you're feeling depressed. Your emotions react to whatever you set your mind on. So instead of concentrating on Satan's lies you must "fix your mind upon" this fact: God designed you to need His unconditional love. New creatures in Christ have His love in abundance through Jesus. But, you're seeking to satisfy your love-need through conditional love from people; you're seeking to earn human love. And when this love supply wanes or disappears, it paves the way to depression. You must maintain an awareness of His unconditional love for you as you move through your day. You're never alone! Jesus' Spirit indwells you! Embracing the following facts about your relationship with God will slowly begin to give you victory over depression:

Love

Make God's unconditional acceptance through Christ your major Source of love. Keep your tank topped off basking in God's love for you. This is to be believed, even though your emotions may reject that verdict because, after all, your emotions can't even think!

Control

Stop trying to run your little portion of the universe. As a friend of mine says, "If you want to get along with God, stay out of His chair." Move! Burn your declaration of independence! Give up trying to control. That's God's job description. Stop it!

Worth/Value

Your value is determined by the fact that God "spent" His only Son to purchase you as His beloved child. You must choose to do this with your will, despite what your emotions tell you.. This is not so much to be felt as it is to be believed. It's a faith deal.

Purpose/Significance

Believe that you were recreated in Christ for a specific purpose (Eph. 2:10). This purpose is to experience an intimate relationship with Christ and bring honor to His reputation by letting Him express His life through you. Dive in and begin letting Him love others through you by faith because that's what He's about. He lives to love, not to milk love from others and self.

Identity

Believe that you are literally a new creation that you can learn to respect (2 Cor. 5:17). The new you is lovable. God thinks so and He makes the rules! He crucified everything about you that offended Him, buried that old you with Christ, then re-created a lovely new you in Christ's resurrection (1 Pet. 1:3). Read about yourself in Eph. 1:3; 2:10.

Belonging Believe that you are not merely on your way to heaven, but that you have already ascended into heaven in Christ where you are the apple of your heavenly "Dad's" eye. Read Eph. 2:6 to validate this.

New Way of Living

OK, close your eyes. Picture yourself standing in the door of an airplane. Jesus is your parachute. Pray aloud, "God, it's not wrong to want to be loved or to desire self-respect. But I've been making people my primary source of love instead of You. I've also had false ideas about how to bestow respect (love) upon myself. I give those up. I want to do it Your way! I am unconditionally accepted by You. Therefore, I choose to accept myself--unconditionally. I give up operating on whether I feel loved; I know that I am loved. And I know that You want to love others through me, Jesus. I'm trusting that as I begin this new way of living, I'll learn to respect myself because I'll be living in Your perfect will for me."

Now step out into thin air and pull the ripcord. You are floating in Christ's loving arms and He is in control. Stay there. The Father has given all authority to the One Who loves you most. You have placed yourself completely under His authority. Set your mind on key paragraphs in this article. Read them daily. Each is an antidote for depression. They are healing medication to your soul. Step by step, week by week, you will begin to experience the lifting of your depression. As you learn to relax in your Father's unconditional acceptance while letting Christ live through you to love and serve others, you will begin to think, "You know, Dad, I'm actually learning to respect myself. I'm discovering the purpose for living. You are truly an amazing God!"