Can You Overcome Depression?
Questions Of Eternal Consequence • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Introduction
Introduction
Greetings…
Today, we are continuing our series on Questions Of Eternal Consequences.
We will be studying the question “Can You Overcome Depression?”
According to the latest statistics we find…
As of 2023, 29.0% of U.S. adults report having been “diagnosed” with depression at some point in their lives which is up from 19.6% in 2015.
Currently, 2025, 17.8% of adults say the experience depression or are being treated for it, making this the highest recorded rate by Gallup since it began tracking this data in 2015.
Between August 2021 and August 2023, 13.1% of individuals aged 12 and older reported experiencing depression symptoms in the past two weeks.
When you break this down between men and women we find…
Women are more likely to be affected, with 36.7% reporting a lifetime diagnosis of depression compared to 20.4% of men.
We see this issue in suicide rates as well.
In 2023, over 49,300 reported cases of suicide took place making it the highest number ever recorded.
Suicide is the 11th leading cause of death for all ages in the United States and amongst children 1-14 and young adults 20-34 it is the second leading cause of death.
Males are four times more likely to commit suicide than women.
All of this begs the question, “Can You Overcome Depression?”
Now, before we dive into this I need to make sure we understand the difference between “discouragement & depression.”
Discouragement:
Discouragement is a “temporary” feeling of disappointment or a disheartening that comes about due to an unfortunate turn of events.
Depression:
Depression is discouragement “that isn’t dealt with”, which in turn cuts short or even destroys one’s ability to function as a mentally healthy and happy person.
With all this in mind let’s get into our lesson for this morning.
One of the things we find very quickly is that…
This Isn’t A Modern Issue
This Isn’t A Modern Issue
Illustrations Of Discouragement
Illustrations Of Discouragement
Jesus dealt with discouragement.
Isaiah the prophesied about this in concerning the coming Messiah in Isaiah 49:4.
4 But I said, “I have labored in vain; I have spent my strength for nothing and vanity; yet surely my right is with the Lord, and my recompense with my God.”
The psalmist was inspired to write and prophecy about the very thoughts of Jesus on the cross in Psalm 22 wherein we read…
1 My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning? 2 O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer, and by night, but I find no rest.
The great apostle Paul dealt with this on some what of consistent level.
After discussing the battle between what he ends up doing (sinning) verse what he wants to do (live perfectly) Paul cries out in Romans 7:24.
24 Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?
We also find not only illustrations of discouragement that was temporary in the scriptures but we also find…
Illustrations Of Depression
Illustrations Of Depression
King Saul of Israel dealt with depression.
The first king of Israel dealt with depression after God took away his kingdom due to his sin.
14 Now the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and a harmful spirit from the Lord tormented him.
This simply means God allowed Saul to reap the mental consequences of his rebellious actions.
King Saul had what major depression episodes “many times.”
8 And Saul was very angry, and this saying displeased him. He said, “They have ascribed to David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed thousands, and what more can he have but the kingdom?” 9 And Saul eyed David from that day on. 10 The next day a harmful spirit from God rushed upon Saul, and he raved within his house while David was playing the lyre, as he did day by day. Saul had his spear in his hand.
Judas Iscariot dealt with depression.
Judas’ depression was so swift and powerful it led to suicide.
3 Then when Judas, his betrayer, saw that Jesus was condemned, he changed his mind and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders, 4 saying, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.” They said, “What is that to us? See to it yourself.” 5 And throwing down the pieces of silver into the temple, he departed, and he went and hanged himself.
Job is another one that dealt with deep depression after suffering such great loss.
Job lost his family, wealth, health, and friends which led him to wish he hadn’t even been born.
16 Or why was I not as a hidden stillborn child, as infants who never see the light?
Elijah dealt with depression.
Elijah thought there would be a great spiritual awakening when God demonstrating he is the only true God against the prophets of Baal in 1 Kings 18:20-40.
However, that isn’t what happened Jezebel, instead of repenting, sought to kill Elijah instead.
Elijah fled into the wilderness where he was so depressed, because he felt so alone, that he asked God if he could die.
4 But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness and came and sat down under a broom tree. And he asked that he might die, saying, “It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life, for I am no better than my fathers.”
9 There he came to a cave and lodged in it. And behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and he said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” 10 He said, “I have been very jealous for the Lord, the God of hosts. For the people of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword, and I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away.”
Summary
Summary
Discouragement and depression are things we go through that can make us feel all alone and unique in our situation.
In fact, most people that suffer from depression in general “feel like” they are the “only ones” going through it, even if they intellectually understand that isn’t the case.
I want to to let everyone here know, that not only has everyone here gone through times of discouragement, but most likely everyone here has gone through a bout or more of depression, whether we admit it or not.
What you have gone through in the past or are going through now isn’t isolated to you, you are not alone.
So, how does one find themselves…
Prevailing Over Depression
Prevailing Over Depression
Overcoming Bouts Of Discouragement
Overcoming Bouts Of Discouragement
Several things in this life can lead one to suffer discouragement and must be dealt with as quick as possible.
Physical injury or severe illness: Car accident, cancer, etc…
One must come face to face with the fact that things are now different and cannot change, therefore self-pity is not the answer.
In these cases, we must remember that we are still highly blessed by God.
4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. 5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; 6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
Financial disaster can strike and many have become greatly discouraged by this.
We must learn then focus on that fact that material things are just that, of this world and not of the next.
7 for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. 8 But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content.
21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Maybe one finds themselves being forsaken by a very close person to them and thus feeling like they were “stabbed in the back.”
How does a person overcome a friends betrayal?
16 At my first defense no one came to stand by me, but all deserted me. May it not be charged against them! 17 But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion’s mouth.
How does a married person deal with their spouses infidelity, immaturity, or other glaring issues?
8 It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man.
What about the death of a loved one, maybe a spouse, child, or parent, as this discouragement is often the hardest because of its finality in nature.
For the one that was lost that was faithful we can find hope again in Paul’s words in 1 Thessalonians 4:13.
13 But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope.
What about those who have lost loved ones in which we know they were not faithful, but loved by us?
We must come to grips with the reality at hand and remember that they would not want us joining them in the afterlife but to spend an eternity in heaven with God.
27 And he said, ‘Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father’s house— 28 for I have five brothers—so that he may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment.’
What about those sins we commit that impact greatly others lives, like murder, driving drunk and killing or injuring another, etc. …
Much of the Christians discouragement comes from “godly grief or sorrow” that stems from the sins we commit even though we know better. Thankfully that godly sorrow is what motivates us to repent and confess which leads to our forgiveness (1 John 1:8). We over come by understanding our God, the judge of us, will remember those things against no more.
12 For I will be merciful toward their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more.
What happens when we find ourselves past bouts of discouragement and rather dealing with…
Overcoming Bouts Of Depression
Overcoming Bouts Of Depression
When we find ourselves beyond discouragement and fighting against depression how can we “overcome it or prevail against it?”
Elijah is a great case to study because God recognizes Elijah’s depression is systematically gives him what is needed to overcome.
Let’s examine God’s response to Elijah’s depression.
Let’s read 1 Kings 19:5-21.
5 And he lay down and slept under a broom tree. And behold, an angel touched him and said to him, “Arise and eat.” 6 And he looked, and behold, there was at his head a cake baked on hot stones and a jar of water. And he ate and drank and lay down again. 7 And the angel of the Lord came again a second time and touched him and said, “Arise and eat, for the journey is too great for you.”
8 And he arose and ate and drank, and went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb, the mount of God. 9 There he came to a cave and lodged in it. And behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and he said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” 10 He said, “I have been very jealous for the Lord, the God of hosts. For the people of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword, and I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away.”
14 He said, “I have been very jealous for the Lord, the God of hosts. For the people of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword, and I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away.” 15 And the Lord said to him, “Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus. And when you arrive, you shall anoint Hazael to be king over Syria. 16 And Jehu the son of Nimshi you shall anoint to be king over Israel, and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah you shall anoint to be prophet in your place.
17 And the one who escapes from the sword of Hazael shall Jehu put to death, and the one who escapes from the sword of Jehu shall Elisha put to death. 18 Yet I will leave seven thousand in Israel, all the knees that have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him.” 19 So he departed from there and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen in front of him, and he was with the twelfth. Elijah passed by him and cast his cloak upon him.
20 And he left the oxen and ran after Elijah and said, “Let me kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow you.” And he said to him, “Go back again, for what have I done to you?” 21 And he returned from following him and took the yoke of oxen and sacrificed them and boiled their flesh with the yokes of the oxen and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he arose and went after Elijah and assisted him.
There are five distinct things that happen for Elijah by God.
First God provides physical nourishment (5-7).
Hot bread to eat and water to drink.
Second, rest. (6)
Rest is vital to thinking clearly and having what it physically takes to mentally overcome.
Third, quietness. (8)
Elijah was sent to the “mount of God” to reflect.
Fourth, work. (15-16)
God sent Elijah back to work for him.
Fifth, fellowship. (19-21)
God sent Elijah, Elisha to help.
Summary
Summary
With physical nourishment, proper rest, adequate reflection, good works, and great fellowship anyone can overcome general depression.
That depression that comes from discouragement and is held on to too long.
Conclusion
Conclusion
Now before we end this lesson, I want to make something very clear.
There is a difference between discouragement that isn’t quickly dealt with that turns into depression and what is in more modern times called “clinical depression.”
I know we don’t always like to admit that our minds can have issues we cannot simply “overcome.”
There is a sad but vocal group, of which I used to be a part of it, that said only the most mental severe cases of depression need medication such as bipolarism or something similar.
However, there is plenty of medical evidence that sometimes the chemicals in our brains God created to help us overcome general depression is missing or misfiring and only with medication can this truly be delt with.
So I want to encourage everyone listening not to be one of those that will answer on the day of judgment for not allowing their spouse to get the proper help they needed medically due to you not having the same physical limitation.
We must allow our loved ones the proper “rejoicing in the Lord” that we are able to do.
Now I want to leave you with one last verse that reminds each of us that “God knows our struggle” and most importantly he is there for us.
8 You have kept count of my tossings; put my tears in your bottle. Are they not in your book?
Invitation
1 Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, or his ear dull, that it cannot hear; 2 but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear.
6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.
17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
30 The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent
33 So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.
32 Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. 33 But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.
8 in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.
1 Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, 2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. 3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures
3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.
7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.
12 Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.
