| If a person is depressed, is he just | | | | other and compliment each other on what |
| supposed to let Jesus fight this battle? | | | | a good job each did. That's praise. |
| What is depression? The act of being | | | | When we praise God, we are telling Him |
| depressed, which Webster's Dictionary | | | | what a good job He is doing. We pick |
| defines as being pressed down, dejected, | | | | out specific things we can congratulate |
| dispirited. | | | | Him about. When we don't feel like it, |
| What causes us to be that way? A bad | | | | that's when we should to do it the most. |
| grade in school, a missed promotion at | | | | This is call the sacrifice of praise. |
| work, a spouse leaving us, abuse in our | | | | We can sing our praises, write our |
| home when we were younger, someone dying | | | | praises, maybe even paint our praises as |
| or an illness. | | | | long as they come from our heart. |
| There are so many reasons that we might | | | | Praise is the antidote to the spirit of |
| be depressed--pressed down, dejected, | | | | heaviness. When we begin to praise God |
| dispirited. | | | | one step at a time, our lives change. |
| I know I have been depressed on and off | | | | We need to praise our way out of |
| for most of my life. I can trace it | | | | depression. Praise our way to a |
| back to the physical and verbal abuse | | | | miracle. Praise our way to a |
| that took place in my home. | | | | breakthrough, a turn-around. |
| I have always felt sad, or as if I | | | | Praise is the number one way to combat |
| didn't belong, as if I was an alien from | | | | depression, but it is not the only way. |
| another planet, who had been dropped | | | | In our lives there will be times and |
| here on Earth to be raised by humans. | | | | seasons of trouble, but our God has |
| To some extent, everyone has gone | | | | overcome the world (John 16:33). We |
| through depression at one time or | | | | have to put our trust totally and |
| another, especially as a teenager. | | | | completely in our God (Proverbs 3:5-6) |
| I've heard from some well-meaning people | | | | and what He has done for us. |
| that Christians cannot be depressed. | | | | We have to trust that God is in control |
| Christians are human beings like the | | | | and that He will do what He said He |
| rest of us. They go through failures | | | | would, that He will turn everything that |
| and disappointments, ups and downs, in | | | | happens in our life around for our good |
| life just like everyone else. They | | | | (Romans 8:28). |
| become depressed too. | | | | We have to put our trust in God rather |
| Let's take a look at the Prophet Elijah. | | | | than the news papers or in the news |
| A mighty man of God. He had initiated | | | | broadcasts or in what the President |
| a contest with the prophets of a false | | | | says. We must choose to trust God in |
| god Baal to see whose divine power could | | | | everything we do. |
| bring down fire--Baal or the One True | | | | One of the solutions God has expressed |
| God. Of course, our One True God won (I | | | | to me is to cast my cares (I Peter 5:7). |
| Kings 18)! | | | | We were never designed to carry the |
| Elijah, probably feeling victorious and | | | | heavy load that we endure. |
| vindicated, soon learned that the wicked | | | | God is more than willing to carry our |
| Queen Jezebel sought to kill him. | | | | cares, our worries, our fears. He is |
| Elijah ran and hid from her under a | | | | just waiting for us to hand them over to |
| juniper tree (I Kings 19). He felt very | | | | Him. |
| pressed down, dejected and dispirited. | | | | God is like a bank. We have to entrust |
| He felt sorry for himself and complained | | | | the bank with our money before they will |
| to God, as many of us do. | | | | take charge of it and keep it safe. |
| God wasn't moved by his complaining. | | | | Unlike a bank, though, we must check our |
| Nor is He moved by ours. Yes, we should | | | | cares in but not withdraw them. Instead |
| bring our problems to God, but we cross | | | | we must exchange our currency of cares |
| a fine line when we complain and try to | | | | for His currency of sufficiency and |
| get God to do things our way instead of | | | | provision (II Corinthians 12:9, |
| taking our problems to God and letting | | | | Philippians 4:19). |
| Him handle them. | | | | If needed, it is fine to go to a |
| Complaining involves a lot of questions | | | | counselor or psychologist. We should |
| and commentary. Taking our problems to | | | | try to retain one who is a Believer. |
| God involves reporting the facts of our | | | | Someone who believes in the ways of God. |
| situation to God, and as my mother says, | | | | Depression can be caused by a chemical |
| "Exchanging our facts for God's Truth." | | | | imbalance. Some require medication. |
| When we are complaining, we aren't | | | | Some require a professional. |
| interested in truth or facts. Rather we | | | | Either way, though, it is well within |
| are focused on the way we feel. We are | | | | the right of every Believer to believe |
| listening to our emotions. | | | | God has already healed our depression in |
| What does the Bible say about | | | | the spiritual realm. Therefore it is |
| depression? | | | | within our right to stand on the |
| The Bible speaks of being broken-hearted | | | | promises of God concerning the healing |
| (Isaiah 61:1) and having a spirit of | | | | of our body and mind (I Peter 2:24, II |
| heaviness (Isaiah 61:3). It says that | | | | Timothy 1:7). |
| God gives us the garment of praise for | | | | When we stand on His Word, believing He |
| the spirit of heaviness (Isaiah 61:3). | | | | will do what He said He will do (Mark |
| Now what is praise? When we are on a | | | | 9:23), He will come through for us in |
| team--football, basketball, whatever | | | | our time of need. He will give us the |
| sport we play--and the team wins, the | | | | breakthrough we need. |
| players go around and congratulate each | | | | |