Coping with depression

28Mar08

The worst experiences in our lives, God’s able to turn into stories of triumph and beauty. As someone who was prone to depression, God saved and empowered me with His love to overcome this. Now, given that I have a heart for those who suffer the same, it’s as if I’m being prompted to share compassion and hope… Everything really has a purpose.

In Malachi 1:2, we are greeted with God saying:

“I have loved you” says the Lord, but you ask, “how have you loved us?”…

Isn’t it too easy for us to bring the blame to Him? On the rise of our most delicate of problems, we forget His faithfulness and abounding gifts and love while we focus on our heartache instead. God has parted seas, performed miracles and saved His people. But repeatedly, people question when they feel the slightest of pain. I think depression is also a sign of ‘forgetting‘ as much as it is a person’s state. We forget how He’s blessed us, delivered us, comforted us and understood how we feel. If there’s a grief bigger than anyone else’s, imagine how God felt at the sight of His Son being scourged, beaten, spat on, hammered on the cross and mocked to die? He knows how we feel!

A man’s spirit sustains him in sickness,
but a crushed spirit who can bear?
Proverbs 18:14

But we’re not alone through all of these.

The LORD is close to the brokenhearted
and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
Psalm 34:18

I can’t explain why bad things happen to ‘good’ people.. All I know is that sometimes, God allows us to be so broken, often times through our stubbornness, for us to realize that we only need Him.

Whenever the shadows of depression creeps, mismatching our understanding with lies, I hold on to God’s unchanging promise.

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
Jeremiah 29:11

…Never will I leave you;
never will I forsake you.”[a] 6So we say with confidence,
“The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid.
What can man do to me?”..
Hebrews 13:5-6

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
Romans 8:28

God loves us. More than we usually want to admit, because we limit our concept of love by human standards. We’ve got the best romance here! 🙂 The very reason why Jesus came to save us.

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

What greater love is there than that? So don’t be discouraged! 🙂 Whenever discouragement comes your way, remember that the One who loves us is above anyone. What are we to worry?

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
James 2:4

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Tags: coping with depression, depression, God and depression, God our comforter, Jesus loves you