RESOLVED: To Address Anxiety and to Deal with Depression

DEALING WITH DEPRESSION

Illustration: Pastor from Chino. 30 year old pastor succumbed to the lie of suicide. He had 3 young boys, wife, and a large church he inherited from his father who passed from leukemia 2 years before at 55. He had suffered from sickness and a tumor himself the past year.

Sadness from loss is normal part of life. He seems to have been overwhelmed by a great deal of tragedy and stress in a short span of time. So his initial experience with sadness and depression would be reasonable. Based on his choice, while I don’t know his entire situation, I would venture that his sadness, grief and stress did not receive the proper care and support he needed. So he began to slip further and further into depression. Listen, you are not weak when you’ve experience loss.

The problems of depression has been multiplied in our society as supposed experts actually add to the harm. How? They create this sense that you should never be unhappy or dissatisfied with life. If you find yourself sad at any time, you should seek drug treatment, question your marriage, your job, reevaluate your sexuality, and even gender.

Rather than turn to the Lord and redirect yourself around His design and plan, people end up further and further distance.

WHAT DO I MEAN? FRIENDS, THIS IS THE INSIDIOUS NATURE OF OUR CULTURE. PEOPLE KNOW THEY’RE MISSING SOMETHING. THEY DON’T HAVE DIRECTION. THEY HAVE BEEN HURT, THEY HAVE NOT ACHIEVED WHAT THEIR MIND TELLS THEY COULD HAVE. BUT THEN YOU HAVE THIS NEW CULTURE THAT TELLS THEM “YOU ARE OK!!!” IT’S EVERYONE ELSE THAT IS THE PROBLEM. SO WE NEED TO CREATE SAFE SPACES. WE HAVE TO CENSOR IDEAS AND OPINIONS THAT MAY CAUSE YOU STRESS...

BY THE WAY THAT IS THE EXACT OPPOSITE OF CREATING MENTAL AND SPIRITUAL HEALTH. LISTEN YOU DON’T BREAK A LEG AND HAVE THE THERAPIST SAY, “NOW NOW, WE DON’T WANT YOU TO EVER PUT ANY PRESSURE ON THAT LEG AGAIN. DON’T RIDE THAT STATIONARY BIKE, THAT’S TOO DEMANDING. DON’T GET UP OUT OF BED, YOUR LEG WILL FEEL PAIN AGAIN. AND BELIEVE ME IT WILL. BUT THAT IS THE THERAPISTS JOB TO HELP GUIDE YOU TO KEEP PUTTING MORE AND MORE PRESSURE IN A CONTROLLED MANNER SO THAT YOU CAN WALK ON YOUR OWN AGAIN.

BUT MUCH OF THE MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS AND THOSE ON COLLEGE CAMPUSES DO THE EXACT OPPOSITE FOR OUR PEOPLE TODAY. THEY ARE SUFFERING AND THESE PROFESSIONALS AND PROFESSORS SAY, “HEY YOU ARE OK. ITS’ SOMEONE ELSE’S FAULT. WE NEED TO KEEP THOSE CHRISTIANS OFF CAMPUS, STOP THEM FROM BAKING CAKES, AND THEY BETTER NOT TALK ABOUT HELPING ANYONE WHO WANTS TO MOVE TOWARDS HETEROSEXUALITY.

I didn’t see the connection between all this thinking and the rise of suicide until recently. I mean who would have thought that.

So we have more and more people slipping into that dark place where some people consider suicide and others take that thought process a bit further… If I feel sadness and other people are at fault then I get to become judge, jury and executioner. That happened at a video game meet the other week.

Until we get our souls back on track as a nation, this sad, sick, wild ride of increasing suicides and increasing violence will continue.

Now with that all reviewed, let’s consider this truth:

If you don’t deal with Depression and Anxiety, you will end up in a dark place

Sadness, Anxiety, Disillusionment come upon everyone.

Moses, Elijah, Jonah, Pastors, and people just like you.

Depression and Anxiety unaddressed will take you to a deep dark place. Interestingly enough Moses fell into this trap as well. Let’s look at what happened and the answers that worked for 3500 years.

Numbers 11:10–15 NASB95

10 Now Moses heard the people weeping throughout their families, each man at the doorway of his tent; and the anger of the Lord was kindled greatly, and Moses was displeased. 11 So Moses said to the Lord, “Why have You been so hard on Your servant? And why have I not found favor in Your sight, that You have laid the burden of all this people on me? 12 “Was it I who conceived all this people? Was it I who brought them forth, that You should say to me, ‘Carry them in your bosom as a nurse carries a nursing infant, to the land which You swore to their fathers’? 13 “Where am I to get meat to give to all this people? For they weep before me, saying, ‘Give us meat that we may eat!’ 14 “I alone am not able to carry all this people, because it is too burdensome for me. 15 “So if You are going to deal thus with me, please kill me at once, if I have found favor in Your sight, and do not let me see my wretchedness.”

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1 John 1:4–6 NASB95

4 These things we write, so that our joy may be made complete. 5 This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth;

Let’s look at Moses source of despair:

I. Some Sources of Depression to watch out for:

1.The Disillusionment of Success.

The world tells you that if you get the right job, the right spouse, the right house, and do the right thing, you will be loved and adored. That’s no so. Things and achievements can bring you a sense of happiness for a time. But only by devoting your heart and mind to what really matters will GIVE YOU SATISFACTION. For even the great men and women of the Bible settling on Jesus as their source of approval and satisfaction proved to be a lifelong process. Only a very select few seemed to focus on the Lord from the very beginning. Moses took over 80 years to really get his start, Abraham at 100, Sarah maybe at 90. Joseph, Daniel, his friends, Esther, David, and Mother Mary seemed to be exceptions to the rule.

2.Unrealistic DREAMS.

2.Unrealistic DREAMS. Either I beat Babe Ruth home runs or I’m a failure. Either I become as popular as Oprah or I’m a failure. You are neither of those things. Don’t become lazy. Don’t procrastinate. But don’t compare yourself to unrealistic achievements. The Nihilism and the Narcissism of our culture create a dangerous drug that you will overdose on. What do I mean? It used to be that everyone could be good at something. You belonged to a relatively small group of people at school. You could be a football player. You could be the QB, the WR, Left Tackle, Linebacker, the Kicker etc… No one demanded to play every position. Same thing in musicals. Maybe you never got the lead, but you could be a good actress, pianist, you could be a good nerd… homecoming president, debater etc… Now though you don’t just compare yourself to those in your school, with Instagram, Twitter, etc… the scaling is impossible. You have to compete with the Kardashians.

Either I have the control Pharoah Either I beat Babe Ruth home runs or I’m a failure. Either I become as popular as Oprah or I’m a failure. You are neither of those things. Don’t become lazy. Don’t procrastinate. But don’t compare yourself to unrealistic achievements. The Nihilism and the Narcissism of our culture create a dangerous drug that you will overdose on. What do I mean? It used to be that everyone could be good at something. You belonged to a relatively small group of people at school. You could be a football player. You could be the QB, the WR, Left Tackle, Linebacker, the Kicker etc… No one demanded to play every position. Same thing in musicals. Maybe you never got the lead, but you could be a good actress, pianist, you could be a good nerd… homecoming president, debater etc… Now though you don’t just compare yourself to those in your school, with Instagram, Twitter, etc… the scaling is impossible. You have to compete with the Kardashians.

Exodus 12:38 NASB95

38 A mixed multitude also went up with them, along with flocks and herds, a very large number of livestock.

Numbers 11:4 NASB95

4 The rabble who were among them had greedy desires; and also the sons of Israel wept again and said, “Who will give us meat to eat?

num 11:

3.THE DEMANDS OF OTHERS .

“No matter who you are, you will find someone jealous of you. They want what you have. They want you to give them what they don’t deserve and have no right to. Everyone knows an area that they don’t measure up. Much of today’s politics demonstrates that attitude. If someone is richer than you, they got it by stealing. That’s a maxim of the Left right now. And look at how easily that thought becomes contagious. Socialism has such great appeal to young people today. They feel they have a right to other people’s wealth. Interestingly, they never consider giving their Macintosh, Starbucks Coffee, or American Eagle Jeans to the masses of the impoverished children. Few to none of those in Ivy League colleges support a Compassion child. Be careful of taking every demand to heart. That’s not to say you can’t improve yourself, just to let mean spirited people set the standard for you. Don’t give your soul over to bullies!

1.The Disillusionment of Success. The world tells you that if you get the right job, the right spouse, the right house, and do the right thing, you will be loved and adored. That’s no so. Things and achievements can bring you a sense of happiness for a time. But only by devoting your heart and mind to what really matters will GIVE YOU SATISFACTION. For even the great men and women of the Bible settling on Jesus as their source of approval and satisfaction proved to be a lifelong process. Only a very select few seemed to focus on the Lord from the very beginning. Moses took over 80 years to really get his start, Abraham at 100, Sarah maybe at 90. Joseph, Daniel, his friends, Esther, David, and Mother Mary seemed to be unique

Numbers 11:16 NASB95

16 The Lord therefore said to Moses, “Gather for Me seventy men from the elders of Israel, whom you know to be the elders of the people and their officers and bring them to the tent of meeting, and let them take their stand there with you.

3.THE DEMANDS OF OTHERS (. “No matter who you are, you will find someone jealous of you. They want what you have. They want you to give them what they don’t deserve and have no right to. Everyone knows an area that they don’t measure up. Much of today’s politics demonstrates that attitude. If someone is richer than you, they got it by stealing. That’s a maxim of the Left right now. And look at how easily that thought becomes contagious. Socialism has such great appeal to young people today. They feel they have a right to other people’s wealth. Interestingly, they never consider giving their Macintosh, Starbucks Coffee, or American Eagle Jeans to the masses of the impoverished children. Few to none of those in Ivy League colleges support a Compassion child. Be careful of taking every demand to heart. That’s not to say you can’t improve yourself, just to let mean spirited people set the standard for you. Don’t give your soul over to bullies!

4. Disconnection from others.

Isolation (God tells Moses to gather 70 good men around himself). You need to friends who will seek your best and their best. I am amazed at how many people isolate themselves. I am equally amazed at people who surround themselves with demanding people, dangerous people, or negative influences. You need people who will point you back to the right direction when you are off base. You also need friends who will cheer you on when you achieve a goal.

I will encourage ___________________ to start...

I will rejoice with ___________________ over their success.

5. The Devil!

1 Peter 5:7–9 NASB95

7 casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you. 8 Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 9 But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world.

Spiritual warfare. “If the Devil can’t own you, he wants to defeat you.

You must learn the proper way to Defend your heart, mind, and soul against those who Demand what they Don’t Deserve and you cannot give.

There are those who DEMAND Happiness. (Happiness is not a constant state of being, it is a by-product and hopefully based out of seeking meaningful things, like family, friends, support of those you have connected with and the betterment of what you can control to the benefit of the overall endeavor of your life and other’s life.

II. WAYS TO DEFEND AGAINST SLIDING INTO DEPRESSION

1. Daily choose the TRUTH OF GOD

DOES THE APPLAUSE OF THE CROWD DETERMINE YOUR ACTIONS AND ATTITUDE?

DO YOU SET YOUR MIND ON THE AUDIENCE OF ONE TO DETERMINE YOUR ALTITUDE?

Ephesians 2:4–7 NASB95

4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

John 18:36–40 NASB95

36 Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, then My servants would be fighting so that I would not be handed over to the Jews; but as it is, My kingdom is not of this realm.” 37 Therefore Pilate said to Him, “So You are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say correctly that I am a king. For this I have been born, and for this I have come into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.” 38 Pilate said to Him, “What is truth?” And when he had said this, he went out again to the Jews and said to them, “I find no guilt in Him. 39 “But you have a custom that I release someone for you at the Passover; do you wish then that I release for you the King of the Jews?” 40 So they cried out again, saying, “Not this Man, but Barabbas.” Now Barabbas was a robber.

2. Do worship God every day for some attribute of His and something He has done.

a. Ask: Is my heart THANKFUL?

b. Ask: Am I GRATEFUL?

c. Hearts Full of God don’t leave room for darkness.

1 John 1:5 NASB95

5 This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all.

Count your blessings,

1 John 1:5–7 NASB95

5 This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; 7 but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.

Count your blessings,

If you are struggling,

Ask for help.

Call 1-800-273-8255.

Begin healthy habits for the Body, Mind, and Soul.

Take a walk.

Choose to talk with someone who will care for you and pray for you.

Say “Yes” to Jesus.

Get involved in the life of the church (even when you don’t “feel” like it). You have to “do” good often before you “feel” good.

If your condition is organic, be open to appropriate treatment.

Count your blessings,

Seeking happiness is not a good goal. Happiness will best be enjoyed when it comes as a byproduct of seeking the GOOD. One can have the attributes of happiness and things, but be dissatisfied.

Pastor who committed suicide.

Danger of celebrity. How do you top that? America’s got talent.

Human being, not human doing.

There is a high from achievement. It’s good to strive for better but not good to RELY upon getting better to find it.

You live in a world where participation trophies supposedly replaced competition and competiveness. All that happened is that they drove that natural desire to achieve underground. Into video games, online chat rooms. Subtweeting etc… No healthy outlets for you to discover where you do have talent and should invest.

Also the scaling grew so rapidly with social media. I have 10 followers. Well so and so has 10 million. Think about it, we elected social media phenomenons now. And we wonder why politics has seemed so petty. They didn’t create the problem, they are the result.

But it used to be you had the kid who did well in plays, soccer, football or good at certain positions in football, band, academics, homecoming. Now, you have prom dresses compared and ripped across the world, instantly. Only a very select few can exist above the fray and everyone else becomes first loser! That’s just what it is.