Dear Friends:

You know the feeling. You have no energy. You have been dealing with a problem situation or a problem person for a long time and there seems to be no hope of change. You are discouraged, tired, and defeated. You would like to pull the covers over your head and wake up to a whole new scenario – anything but the one you face day after day.

Depression is a problem that no one escapes entirely in a lifetime. But, for some, the dark feelings seem to hang on. The sadness won’t go away. Does that sound familiar to you?

The Bible is not ignorant of the importance of our feelings. Here are a couple of examples from the book of Proverbs:

“All the days of the oppressed are wretched, but the cheerful heart has a continual feast.” (Proverbs 15:15)

“A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.” (Proverbs 17:22)

I don’t know about you, but I would rather have a continual feast than have oppressive days. And my body could certainly use the good medicine that a cheerful heart can give rather than going through life feeling drained and dried up. So how can we get beyond the depression that haunts us to the cheerful heart that heals us?

First, we have to realize that even some of God’s heroes experienced depression. Elijah is one that comes to mind immediately. But, as we read through the psalms, we realize that David’s emotions ran the entire gamut from depression to ecstasy. Moses was a melancholic personality and Jeremiah is known as “the weeping prophet” – doesn’t sound like a cheerful demeanor to me! So, our struggles with depression do not mean that we are not Christians, that God cannot use us, or that we are beyond His help.

Second, there are many causes of depression.

Some causes relate to personality traits, genetics, and chemistry.

Others have to do with unresolved issues from early childhood.

Or depression may be a result of our own sinful behavior or decisions.

And some depression simply grows out of difficult, discouraging circumstances.

One of the first steps in successfully overcoming depression might be to determine its cause. Sometimes we know the reason we are feeling so bad. At other times we are able to determine the cause with the help of prayer and the light of the Holy Spirit. But there are many times when we are simply in the dark, so to speak, about why we feel so bad. In those cases, it may be necessary to get some help from a wise Christian counselor. Knowing the real reason for our depression will go a long way in overcoming it.

I am addressing this subject this month because I am aware that depression, either acknowledged or hidden, is a problem that many face in these days. However, I am not a trained counselor. So, this is where I must turn to those who have studied the human condition and have discovered in those studies and in years of experience ways in which we, as ordinary men and women, can deal with the problem of depression.

What follows are seven guidelines for overcoming depression taken from a book by Frank B. Minirth, M.D. and Paul D. Meier, M.D., both of whom are highly regarded counselors and who have written extensively on this subject. I bow to their expertise and present these guidelines trusting that they will help someone reading this to see hope for getting out from under the cloud of depression. Here are the guidelines*:

1. Commit your life daily to the purpose of glorifying Jesus Christ. When we remember that our purpose here on earth is to glorify Him and to enjoy our relationship with Him, it helps us to gain a better perspective on the issues of life that tend to trouble us.
   
   
2. Spend some time each day meditating on God’s Word and applying it to your life. “If we choose happiness, we must choose also to reprogram our ‘computer’ brains to God’s way of thinking instead of our own crazy way of thinking. We can do this only by frequent meditation on God’s Word.” There is power in the Word of God to change us from the inside out, but we must take it in if we want that power to be unleashed in our lives.
   
   
3. Get rid of grudges daily. When people offend us (and they will!), we need to be quick to forgive. Unforgiveness, unresolved anger, and a vengeful spirit provide rich soil in which depression thrives.
   
   
4. Spend a little time nearly every day getting more intimate with your mate and your children. We need to give priority to our families by giving them time and attention and that attention will include healthy resolution of family conflicts when they arise.
   
   
5. Spend some time each week having fellowship and fun with at least one or two committed Christian friends of the same sex. And, if we are married, we should find ways to have fun with other married couples. God designed us to need each other – family, friends, and community. Being together energizes us, lightens our load, and brings out the best in us.
   
   
6. Be involved in a daily routine that brings personal satisfaction to you. Whatever routine we develop, we must be convinced that what we are doing is God’s will and purpose for our lives – our way of glorifying Him.
   
   
7. Do something nice for one special person each week. This kind deed can be physical (helping with a chore, for example), emotional (such as buying a book or giving counsel), or spiritual (e.g. praying or worshipping together).

So, how are you doing today? Are you feeling good? Then thank God for your emotional health and share joy and comfort and encouragement with someone else.

Are you feeling down? Depressed? You don’t have to stay there. Begin by reviewing the guidelines given in this letter. If you still don’t see hope for finding light, call someone for help: a friend, a pastor, a counselor. Then commit to God your search for joy, contentment, and peace, following His lead through the journey.

And, finally, know that God cares very much about our mental and emotional health. The Bible is full of teaching, insight, and guidance on this subject. If you want a place to begin in your search for what God says about how we feel, I would suggest that you take a careful look at Philippians 4:4-13. God, through the pen of Paul, speaks of joy in this passage, as well as the cure for anxiety. He also talks about peace, contentment, and confidence. And he gives us a formula for re-programming our minds to think in ways that honor God and bring positive attitudes and happiness to our lives. Let’s allow God’s Word have the final say in how we feel!

May you experience supernatural joy today!

Bev

* From Happiness is a Choice by Frank B. Minirth, M.D. and Paul D. Meier, M.D., pages 136-147. Some of the guidelines are summarized and paraphrased for the purposes of this correspondence and some of the commentary is mine and not directly that of Dr. Minirth and Meier.

P.S. If you know of others who would enjoy receiving this newsletter each month, please encourage them to visit my website (www.beverlyvankampen.com), click on the newsletter icon, and enter their e-mail address. I would love to add them to our circle of friends.