Basics for Depressed Believers

Several weeks ago Jim had noticed that Charlie had been less talkative and less willing to do things together that they usually did. When Jim was asked Charlie about his mood he said that life was not worth the effort since his parents were getting a divorce. Jim tried to encourage him but felt that his words were not getting through. Then one evening Charlie called Jim and said he wanted to end it all.

All of us feel down sometimes and negative feelings can range from mild disappointment, to normal disappointment, to serious depression like Charlie. To understand depression we must look at its causes. Once we see the dynamics involved then we can seek a biblical solution.

1. Some Causes of Depression (negative feelings = disappointment, then discouragement, and finally depression)

a. Sometimes our bodies hinder us

i. Depression can occasionally be caused by a bodily malfunction. A thyroid condition, certain infections, unstable hormonal activity, reaction to medication, etc.

ii. If depression persists then a physician should be consulted to diagnose the situation.

iii. True medical conditions of this kind are seldom the cause for the depression we encounter in our lives. Yet both the medical and spiritual must be dealt with.

b. The Real Problem for Most of Us

i. The depression most of us encounter is a result of a wrong reaction to certain losses in life.

ii. God designed us to experience “down” times when we lose something or someone that is important to us. (For instance a pet, job, friend, eye, arm, etc.)

iii. When we think about the loss we experience what God’s word calls “sorrow”- the God given emotion for loss. It is that inner ache we feel as we think about the loss. In Matthew 26:38 Jesus experienced sorrow as He thought about the upcoming loss of fellowship with the Father when he would bear the sins of the world. This example shows us that sorrow in itself is not sinful.

iv. Depression is a result of sorrow without hope. We lose hope when we think things will not get better, or there is no purpose for our pain, or that no one else has to go through anything similar. When we become convinced that nothing else can be done and the situation is hopeless, then we experience depression.

1. Step one – Normal Experience When We Lose: Thoughts of loss = Sorrow (the emotion of loss)

2. Step two – Unbiblical Response to Loss: Sorrow without hope = Depression.

3. Let’s look at this phrase when we look at depression and handling it Biblically. “Watch how you are thinking, and what how you choose to think about your lose.”

2. “Watch how you muse when you lose”

a. Muse means - to ponder or meditate; to consider or deliberate at length.

b. Usually emotions are the by products of thoughts. We cannot sustain any emotion without thought. We cannot sustain romance without thinking of someone in a certain way. We can’t hold on to anger without thinking about what the other person has done to us.

c. To change emotions we must change the thoughts. We must begin with asking some tough questions.

i. Question #1 – Did God arrange or allow the loss over which I am depressed because it was wrong for me to have the thing I lost in the first place?

1. There are some things God never intended us to have (2 Corinthians 6:14-17, 1John 2:15-17), and He mercifully arranges for them to be removed.

a. Teenager that lost an unsaved person in a dating relationship.

b. An adult that had financial loss when he impulsively purchased things after a high powered sales pitch.

2. Take a moment and think about a time you were depressed. What did you lose? Was it something God never intended for you have? If so, what was it?

3. We must forsake the items that are not part of God’s plan, and we must restore fellowship with Him by confession of sin and asking for His forgiveness. 1John 1:9.

ii. Question #2 – Did God arrange or allow the loss over which I am depressed because I was becoming dependent upon the thing I lost instead of upon God for my happiness and stability? Or was I using it to make life work my way?

1. Examples:

a. A college student feels his happiness is in making straight A’s in his classes and he received a low mark on a test.

b. A store manager whose relational policy is “Peace at any Price” receives an order to lay off ¼ of the work force because of financial cut backs.

c. An industrious man loses his legs in an accident and is confined to a wheel chair.

2. Think about it.. What have you lost that you think you must have to make life work your way?

3. Read Proverbs 3:5-6, Isaiah 55:1-3, and Jeremiah 2:13. See areas that your focus has shifted from God to something else for security and happiness.

iii. Question #3 – Did God allow or arrange the loss over which I am depressed because He simply wanted to show me that my Christian life was to shallow?

1. If you are trying to do right but lose hope and become depressed when life is hard, God may be allowing the trial to further perfect and mature you. James 1:1-4, 1Peter 1:6-7, John 15:1-2.

2. Do you see that God could be trying to motivate you to further growth in your Christian life? John 15:2 says that the Lord will purge us so that we can bring forth more fruit. As you think of this fact, what are some of your thoughts that come to mind?

3. We must watch out for thoughts of hopelessness and self pity. They are dangerous to your mind and must be rejected immediately. Psalm 42, 73, and Lamentations 3 describe men that thought life was too hard for them and that other people had it easier. All of them turned their despair around by thinking the right way. Psalm 42:5-6, Psalm 73:16, and Lamentations 3:21 all show the transition in their thinking.

4. When you are feeling depressed, you must decide that you are not going to meditate on thoughts of hopelessness or self pity. You must allow the Scripture to show you the right responses to loss.

5. We must increase in hope. Romans 15:4

6. We must find strength in God’s Word. Psalm 119:28, 67, 71, 75, 92, and 107.

7. We must increase our Bible study and meditation. We need to focus on His Faithfulness and His Promises. God promises stability to those that meditate on His Word. Joshua 1:8, Matthew 7:24-28, 1Timothy 4:15-16, James1:21-25.

3. Secondly, You must Watch What You Choose when You Lose

a. Many people complicate their life by making wrong choices when they are depressed. Then they have to face the results of their sinful choices when they are already down.

i. Indulging in lustful fantasies in order to make you feel better.

ii. Going on a wild spending spree to forget what is bothering you.

iii. Ignoring responsibilities because you want a break from pressure. Escaping in unprofitable activities to forget.(video games, TV, etc)

iv. Binging on food to experience pleasure amidst your disappointment.

v. Attempting to overdose or contemplating some other form of suicide.

vi. Indulging in reckless behavior because of the temporary rush it will bring.

4. God’s Antidepressant

a. God does not want His children living without hope and filling themselves with self pity. Here is God’s antidote.

1. When you begin to experience depression (sorrow without hope) Identify what it is that you lost.

2. Ask yourself the three questions to determine what God may be trying to say to you through your loss.

a. Question #1 – Did God arrange or allow the loss over which I am depressed because it was wrong for me to have the thing I lost in the first place?

b. Question #2 – Did God arrange or allow the loss over which I am depressed because I was becoming dependent upon the thing I lost instead of upon God for my happiness and stability? Or was I using it to make life work my way?

c. Question #3 – Did God allow or arrange the loss over which I am depressed because He simply wanted to show me that my Christian life was to shallow?

3. Examine your thinking.

a. Are you leaning on your “own understanding”? Proverb 3:5-6

b. Are you thinking about your loss from God’s perspective?

c. What other choices have you made while you were depressed that have further complicated your situation?

d. Does anything (thoughts or choices) need to be confessed and forsaken (Proverbs 28:13)?

4. Seek the help of a Godly parent, pastor, or other mature believer that can get your thinking about your loss in line with God’s perspective.

5. Remember “watch how you muse and what you choose when you lose”.