It's OK to not be OK - Part 1 - Depression
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Well Good Morning. We’re in 2021! 2020 is over, so everything is great right! Or not. It seems like it is still 2020 from this perspective.
And that’s kind of what we are going to talk about today. Today’s topic from this series “its ok to not be ok” is depression. It’s kind of a more serious topic, but at this time of the year where it’s right after the holidays and all of a sudden we’re in this kind of gloomier weather and everyone is going back to feeling a little bit lonely because even if everyone did get together for Christmas they’ve kind of all went home now and it’s just me, myself, and I. And our mind just starts to drift into it’s own little place where if we aren’t careful we can get lost in there. So what do we do about it? And that’s what we’ll be talking about today. But first let’s pray.
Ok so let’s get this out of the way - most people don’t want to talk about mental health conditions. We don’t want to discuss them because there are some that would say either this isn’t real, or they don’t want to talk about their feelings because either they don’t want to face the reality that it is there, or they think they’ll be a bother to others. Maybe they don’t want to talk about it because there are some Christians that have a certain stigma that if you have Jesus, well then that’s all you need because with Him there’s no such thing as depression, or anxiety, or whatever - it’s all in your head.
But here’s the thing - we tell others that we’ll pray for them when they’re sick, or when they’re having surgery, and we think that the physical needs are the only ones that are real. And in that sense we tend to believe that it’s only what we can touch or see that are the real ailments.
And there are people out there that have been being told this for years. And they’re hurting, because now not only do they feel their illness, but now they also feel the rejection of the very Body of believers who are supposed to show Christ to them - the ones who are supposed to show hope. And without hope, the depression and the anguish begin to deepen.
For some there may have been a traumatic event that caused the depression, for others it just seems to come out of nowhere. For some it could be the result of anger, failure, or fear. It could be that there is an abusive situation, or it could be caused by grief and loss. Negative thinking and stress can contribute to it. You’re reacting to something that has occurred, and it can just begin to feel overwhelming as the burden continues to grow.
I can remember back during hurricane Katrina and the aftermath I was stationed in Millington, TN and we created this call center there and had a rotation set up to man it. I was the junior guy in the office at the time so I had to man one of the phones. And the phone number was flashing at the bottom of the screen and we were getting phone calls from everyone - military, civilian, everyone - and our job was to take the information about missing people or physical needs, just everything - and place that information into a database. And I remember this one guy who calls up and he was just rescued from his home where half of his home had just floated away with his wife and his dog and, you know, it’s just heartbreaking. I felt the depression of many of these callers who were just calling in after they had lost everything.
For others it could be being caused by a physical condition causing hormonal imbalances that need medical treatment and the depression, although very real, is being caused by another ailment that you may or may not be aware of and it just keeps swallowing you.
Kristin had some thyroid issues back in 2006 after having Matthew and she had to deal with some depression going through all of that, and it was just something that she had to work out both internally and with the help of some medications for her thyroid.
And some choose to self medicate with alcohol or drugs. But it doesn’t stop. And some choose to try to avoid it. But it doesn’t go away. Some start to mutilate themselves, but it doesn’t drain the depression. Some seek their friends, family, even church, and they get told that they are silly, or that they don’t feel that way because they can’t, when in reality it’s because it is too difficult for them to understand that it’s not just something you turn off and on, and it’s very, very real to you. And for some, that becomes the last straw, and the only way out many see is through killing themselves in order to stop the fall.
And today we’re going to address this biblically, we’re going to look at one of the most well known prophets of the Bible, and we are going to see biblical truth in light of depression. Because instead of saying it’s all in your head, instead of saying that it’s not real, instead of avoiding the conversation that is very real, we’re going to address it. And I’ll be the first to admit that I don’t have all of the answers. But I do know this - there are people here today who very well likely may be experiencing some deep, deep depression and I want you to know this and hear this - it’s ok to not be ok. It’s just not ok to stay that way. It’s ok to not be ok. Now let’s do something to get you healthy again.
And the first thing we need to do is get some things out of the way.
1. Depression is not always a faith issue.
In researching for today’s message, I will say that I found a lot of quick-fix sermons telling you to trust God and believe in Jesus then you will never have depression. But I also found a lot of articles about many, many pastors and church leaders that have struggled with it - to the point where they took their own lives. So if just believing in Jesus and having enough faith is all that is needed, then why does scripture have references to trials and tribulations that we will face as well as multiple biblical characters who face it? Why have so many pastors and church leaders and so many believers in Christ struggled with it?
Take a look at 1 Kings 19:4
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.”
Now here’s Elijah, one of the most well-known prophets in the Old Testament, having a bout with depression. Now mind you this is after he’s already ran to what he perceived to be the end of known civilization, and now he’s ran another day from there after leaving his servant in Beersheba and when he finally stops and he’s at the end of his rope and he just cries out to God take me. I can’t take this crushing life anymore, I’m no better than these around me, just take me. Don’t tell me that Elijah has a faith issue because he just faithfully carried out the will of God and now he’s at the end of his rope. He’s drowning in his depression, and it’s not going anywhere without God stepping in and sending an angel to tell him exactly what he needed to do.
You see Elijah was faithful. Elijah even at the end of his rope sought the Lord - albeit to take his life, he was still faithful to know that God was with him. Not all depression is a faith issue, it’s not always caused by a lack of faith - If we look back at verse 2 we see that Jezebel was at least a part of the depression -
Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, “So may the gods do to me and more also, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by this time tomorrow.”
Depression can cause us to think or feel things that most others will see as irrational. It can be caused by outside forces and by spiritual warfare that causes us to think things and lies that are completely irrational.
But there’s hope in Christ - yep. Depression doesn’t really let you see that as clearly as you’d like. You are fearfully and wonderfully made. It’s a true statement, but depression doesn’t tell you that.
Because Elijah only sees that he’s the only believer left and he’s no better than his father. He doesn’t see the hope that he faithfully follows, he just wants to die.
And what God does - notice what He does. He doesn’t tell him that he doesn’t have enough faith. God doesn’t give him a sermon. He doesn’t chastise him. First He allows Elijah to rest, then He sends an angel to tell him to arise and eat and drink. Look at verses 6-8
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.
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.”
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.
Sleep. Eat. Drink. Repeat.
God provides Elijah rest and nourishment. Physically. Which brings us to number 2.
2. Not all depression can be prayed away.
Now this doesn’t mean don’t pray - if anything in times of depression you should pray more - but prayer in and of itself is not the only part of the equation.
God doesn’t always just go poof! No more depression. Sometimes he sends someone to us or us to someone in order to help pull you out of that depression. God sent an angel to Elijah - someone to tell him what he needs to do in order to get better.
And for us today he may do the same thing - or He may just send someone into your life to do the same thing. It may be a friend, a family member, a counselor, or a doctor - and sometimes it may need to be all of the above. Sometimes it takes us surrendering to the authority of God and giving up our selfish pride to let someone in.
God always knows what He’s doing - and even through depression He has a plan to get you out. Look at 2 Corinthians 1:3-5
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort,
who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
For as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too.
Notice that God comforts all - but if you look closely He uses us to comfort each other as well.
For Elijah it was the angel, and the angel tells him exactly what he needs to get to the next step, which was Mount Horeb.
For us it may just be that God is allowing this for a period so that others can minister to you or so that you can minister to others on the other side of it. In any case God knows what He’s doing through it.
And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.
It doesn’t feel good. I know. Why is God doing this to me - He’s not. He allows it to happen, and in His ultimate plan He will turn it into something good. We have to surrender to that plan, and that plan very may well include others.
If we look later in 1 Kings 19 in verses 15-17 God sends a few more people Elijah’s way.
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.
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.
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.
God will send you help - surrender to Him and take the help.
3. Depression can be physical.
First notice that God allowed Elijah to rest, and then the angel said eat. Physically we must also watch ourselves when we are battling depression. Often times a lack of the correct types of food, water, and exercise can contribute to the depression. Notice also that the food and rest Elijah received were beneficial in that they gave him the strength to go a 40 day and 40 night journey - that’s some exercise!
But understand something else- your physical body can be affecting your emotional thoughts.
Thyroid issues, hormonal imbalances, vitamin deficiencies, other medications, all of these things can be affecting your emotional health.
The bottom line is that our physical affects our emotional - Job had boils, and I’m willing to be that all of the people Jesus healed from the blind to the mute to the leprous had some things going on emotionally too.
4. Depression should be talked about.
Depression should absolutely be talked about. And there’s a few reasons for that. One is that you may feel alone, but you are not.
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.”
Elijah thought he was the only one - but God says there’s 7,000 that are still there.
There are those that have been where you are. There are counselors, even biblical ones, I’m here for you, there’s doctors - all who want to help you.
You may be thinking it’s silly, or that you don’t want to bother anyone with it - and for those that have been through it before and those that care about you I’m going to tell you - you matter to them, and there is absolutely nothing silly about it.
And you are never ever alone - if you are in a relationship with Christ God is always there and he is always ready to talk. But that also requires listening.
And he said, “Go out and stand on the mount before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake.
And after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper.
And when Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And behold, there came a voice to him and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
And if we look at Elijah’s case, we see that God will speak to you. It may just be a still small voice, a whisper, but He will still speak to you.
Christ is the answer. Sometimes the depression gets so deep though that it’s time to get another person involved. Or multiple people involved. Because even though Christ is the answer even when we aren’t depressed we don’t know what to do and we make poor choices. That’s why we have fellowship, that’s why Matthew 18:20 tells us
For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”
At my last command I was the Suicide Prevention Coordinator for the command. As a part of that function, I was the command trainer for suicide prevention and for Operational Stress Control. Part of that training was knowing the warning signs in yourself and others -and I believe this applies to us because even if you are healthy, we are called to minister to those who are not.
To summarize the training we look for things that are different in our thought processes and lives. If you have someone giving away expensive stuff that they used to treasure, or if they aren’t acting right, either down more than usual or suddenly very uppity after a period of being down, you need to be watching for these differences - and for some you may need to just ask them the serious question of if they are wanting to kill themself. Don’t be bashful, don’t try to tiptoe around it - because it very well may be the difference between life and death.
And if they weren’t well then they should see that you care enough to ask and you can have a conversation. But if they are then it’s time to get them help. And don’t leave them alone. Don’t ever leave them alone.
And I want to tell you that if you are here today and you are depressed and considering killing yourself - don’t. You are loved. Don’t give up, don’t let it win. Your best days are still ahead and there is a way out. Tell someone, get help, because no matter how dark the situation is, there is going to be joy on the other side.
Would you pray with me?
“God, we ask that in this moment, that Your Spirit would speak to us exactly what we need.”
As you are praying right now, I just want to ask very bluntly, and I pray that you would be honest. For those of you that are hurting, you feel alone. You feel a lack of, of hope. I want to pray for you today.
“God, I pray that just like You spoke and ministered to Elijah, that You would minister to us. And God, I, I ask that for those who are overwhelmed with the burdens of this life, I pray that You would give them the courage to rest and know that they are secure in you. God, I pray that we pray more fervently and that we listen to the messengers that you send to us. God, I pray that in our time with You, that You would speak in a still, small voice, and God, whatever You say, we will do. Help us to go and do what you command us to do, God. We thank You that if we are still here, we are not done. God thank you that we are not alone, because you have given us fellow believers and friends and godly counselors and doctors that can help us to realize that we are never alone. And, and God, I thank You that You are going to lift us out, that You are the lifter of our heads. God, we thank You that joy comes in the morning. May we fully trust in You, and find comfort, God, in Your
presence.”
As you keep praying today, know that there are those that God brought here, and, and you’re about as low as you can get, and the only place you can look is up. The only place you can look is up. There are times when I honestly believe that God lets us hit bottom so that we realize that we cannot do life without Him.
Others of you, you’re like Elijah on Mount Carmel. You’ve had the greatest victory ever. You’ve got all the things that you thought you’d want that would make you happy, and you realize. “I’ve got these things, and I’m not happy.” You’ve had the victory, and yet you are still depressed. Why is that? Because the things of this world do not satisfy. Why are you here? Because God brought you here, because God wants to reveal Himself to you through His Son, Jesus, and show you there is nothing else in this world that brings life. There is nothing else in this world that satisfies. There is nothing else in this world that will connect you with God, save a relationship with His Son, Jesus.
And here is the story of God’s love for you. “For God so loved the world that he sent his one and only son, Jesus.” Jesus lived a sinless life and died the most brutal death on the cross. He shed his blood for the forgiveness of our sins. He rose again, and now scripture
says, “Anyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” There are some of you, you are so low, you’ve got nowhere else to look but up. Look up to Christ. Others of you, you’re on the top of the world and you are still empty. Look up to Christ. There is no one else.
You say, “I acknowledge it. I am lost and separated from God in my sins, and today I want to turn to Him.
And if that’s you, would you step into a relationship with Christ today?
And if Jesus is calling you and you’re ready to give your life to Christ, pray this with me -
Pray, “Heavenly Father, I surrender my life wholly unto You. I know that I am a sinner. I need a Savior. Jesus, save me. Forgive me. Make me brand new. My life is not my own. It now belongs to You. Thank You for new life. Now, You have mine. In Jesus’ name I pray.”
Amen.
The alter is open.
Questions for the Week:
Have you ever or are you now battling depression? Be honest with yourself.
What is your response to those who would say that they are battling with depression?
Pray for those that are battling with depression. It can cripple them to a point that they are unable to see God’s hope and truth. If you know someone who is depressed, what are some ways you can intentionally help them?
If you were honest with yourself, would you say that you allow Christ to work through you when it comes to serving those battling depression, or do you treat depression as something to be avoided?
Depression is real - and it’s ok to not be ok - it’s just not ok to stay that way.
Here are some resources if you are needing to talk:
Pastor Jeremy - personal cell 901-736-7940
2 local counselling centers:
Victor’s Crown - 573-336-9444 and A Place for Grace - 573-774-4198 (I have not contacted either of these agencies, so I cannot reccoment one over the other at this time)
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
Hotline: 800-273-8255
Website: https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org - live chat available -