Light At The End Of The Tunnel

Here I sit scratching my head and wondering how one would address a veritable plague among Christians, that being depression.
In my years as a Christian I have suffered very deep bouts of depression. The worst that I remember is in Nov. of 1983. I was a brand new Christian. Shortly after I was Born Again, I went into a deep dark hole of depression. Every day seemed as if there was a spiritual night surrounding me. Everything was dark. I remember sighing a lot and just happy that the day was over and I could retreat into sleep. It was horrid! I felt so alone and helpless. I figured no one would understand and be able to help me and I was right.
Fortunately for me I snapped out of it in less than 2 weeks.
We like to blame the devil for more things than it (remember that satan is only an angel and an angel has no gender) is responsible for. Saying that it is the devil and that you can pray him away has no meaning to a person that is deep in the pit of depression. That person can hardly breath let alone think of how to get out of where he is at. That person will look at you, sigh and walk away. This scripture will help to explain what I mean:

James 2:
15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,
16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the
body; what doth it profit?

It might seem a bit harsh nevertheless that is how a depressed person would feel. I know because I have been there. It is like giving a drowning man a heavy stone to hold.
Do any of these dictionary explanations resonate with you?

Psychology A psychiatric disorder characterized by an inability to concentrate, insomnia, loss of appetite, anhedonia, feelings of extreme sadness, guilt, helplessness and hopelessness, and thoughts of death. Also called clinical depression.

Psychiatry. a condition of general emotional dejection and withdrawal; sadness greater and more prolonged than that warranted by any objective reason.

Clinical Depression

–noun

Psychiatry. a depression so severe as to be considered abnormal, either because of no obvious environmental causes, or because the reaction to unfortunate life circumstances is more intense or prolonged than would generally be expected.

Many people in Christian ranks hide their depression because they think it is shameful not to be a perfectly happy Christian all the time. Their smile is on the face while the tears are in the eyes ready to flow.

Let me give you all hope IT IS OK TO BE HUMAN!!

Part of our humanity is occasional bouts with depression whether they are caused spiritually or otherwise. Jesus made us the way we are: human. We are not an angel or are we Jesus.

Psalm 8:
4 What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?
5 For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour.

We know that this is talking about Jesus. Jesus took on human form for a brief time here on Earth and by doing so took on all the attributes of His creation, man. He knows what we are or will be going through. He know about depression. That is why He has given us other people to lean on and help us through.
Let me proclaim that it is OK to feel depressed and lean on others. Now here is the qualifier; as long as you do not use it to draw others into your emotional state or use it to gain attention. Harsh?? Well we as humans can use depression as a tool to satisfy our deepest needs of love and acceptance. In that case there is no desire to get out of depression only to stay in it to satisfy OUR desires.
Having said that let is be said that we spend so much time focusing on the problems (sin, world, flesh) that we lose our focus of making it to heaven by just being a Christian.

KJV Luke 10:
41 And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things:

Martha focused upon the problems while Mary focused upon the solution or the object of the quest: Jesus and being a great Christian.
The "Parable of the Sower" is the same thing, focusing upon the wrong thing.
I was given this quote a while ago; "What you focus upon expands." That is exactly what we do when we are depressed, focus on the wrong thing ... us.
Let me say this, when you are in the depths of depression that quote has absolutely no meaning let alone relevance because you are unable to focus on anything else other than your depression. That quote will help you keep away from depression once you are back on your feet again.
Let me say again, it is permissible to be human and look how you feel, for a while.
What did David do?

KJV 1 Samuel 30:
6 And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God.

He encouraged himself in the Lord BEFORE he slipped too fare into depression. It is a temptation to just want top slip into those familiar dark depths, isn't it? Yes slipping into the old ways is a temptation.

KJV 1 Corinthians 10:
13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

KJV James 1:
12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.


KJV 2 Thessalonians 3:
3 But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil.

Please be encouraged. The thing with depression is to always keep on top of it by focusing on positive things. Yes bad things happen to good people however we are able to choose how we wish to respond to situations in our lives. Yes there will be times when we slip into depression yet our time there will be greatly shortened.
The dark tunnel of depression ALWAYS has an end. Jesus is the light at the end of the tunnel and the light in the tunnel.

KJV John 8:
12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

KJV John 12:
46 I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.

Until I became stronger in the Lord Jesus, I was unable to help myself, I couldn't even pray my way out of the darkness. That is when I turned to understanding and discreet Christian friends to pray for me. It was their prayers that help me out because I was helpless to do anything.
Do not be discouraged if you become depressed there is a way out; Christian friends and the guiding light of Jesus. Once you are out of the dark tunnel you can encourage yourself in the Lord Jesus and face anther day with a truly happy spirit.
May the light of Jesus always guide you. May you moment-by-moment encourage yourself in the Lord. Be blessed and happy.