The subject of depression is a primary category in mental health that affects everyone to one degree or another. We will see that God’s Word addresses this “sniffle of the soul” head-on, and teaches us to reframe what we dwell upon, who we listen to, and pursuing God as our greatest desire.
Depression is a Mood Disorder: 2 Categories
- Organic – A disease of the body
- Functional – A disease of the heart
Observations: Nearly all Acute and Accumulated expressions of Depression, whether sourced Organically or Functionally, are a product of poorly answering:
- What is your greatest desire?
- What/Who are you listening to?
- What are you dwelling on?
Conclusions: To have moments of emotional depression is completely normal and even sometimes designed by God for our spiritual growth in humility, dependance, and holiness. Depression that is the result of issues of the heart can be handled with correct biblical counseling. Depression that is the result of bodily issues can also be addressed by correct biblical counseling to help the afflicted person find hope in the midst of pain.
- You will not eradicate depression
- You must address it, contain it, and control it
- You must be discerning with what your soul longs for, listens to, and dwells upon
Application:
- Change your focus
- Saturate your mind with truth
- Bring your sorrow and pain to God
- Make God the direction of your hope and desire
Hebrews 12:1-2a
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.”
Philippians 4:4-5
“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.”
Acts 17:27-28a
“God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us. ‘For in him we live and move and have our being.”
1 Peter 5:7
“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”