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