Overcoming Depression
Depression is a serious condition that affects many people. In fact, I think everyone gets depressed at some time in their lives. I have been depressed myself. Of course, there are different degrees of depression, but the symptoms are the same, but they vary in intensity. In our reading today David was depressed, so he took his people to their enemies, the Philistines. Saul became depressed, so he went to the witch at Endor. Then, David's people were depressed, so they thought about stoning David.(I Samuel 29:6) We can learn how to overcome depression from looking at David's actions in I Samuel 29.
When people get depressed, they feel hopeless because of their situation, and that is what Satan tries to get us to feel. They lose incentive to do anything, so they want to stay alone, sleep, and not go out to do anything. They give up on life. We see this in varying degrees, but it always happens. How does a person overcome depression? The Lord is the only one who can fully heal depression. If a person has a chemical imbalance form the stress of life, they may need medication for a while. However, each person must seek the Lord, find the root cause, and allow the Lord to give them His grace to correct it. David "strengthened himself in the Lord his God." He sought the Lord and did the right thing. He inquired of God. He prayed. Then, he did just what God said. He may not have felt like doing it, but he got up and did it anyway. He followed God, and God restored all of their family members, and the spoils they received were huge. God encouraged their hearts, as they obeyed him, and they all came out of their depression. The same can happen for any of us.
Physical rest helps, if it is not overdone. Eating right helps. Exercise and sunshine help the body overcome the effects of depression. The key, though, is seeking God and acting on what He says, no matter what. Then, when we see Him work, we are encouraged, and we know things are not hopeless. When we see His power, we are set free. That is my prayer for all of us today. I am so glad God delivered me, and I know He can and will do the same for you.
Tomorrow, I intend to read I Samuel 31 and II Samuel 1-3.
When people get depressed, they feel hopeless because of their situation, and that is what Satan tries to get us to feel. They lose incentive to do anything, so they want to stay alone, sleep, and not go out to do anything. They give up on life. We see this in varying degrees, but it always happens. How does a person overcome depression? The Lord is the only one who can fully heal depression. If a person has a chemical imbalance form the stress of life, they may need medication for a while. However, each person must seek the Lord, find the root cause, and allow the Lord to give them His grace to correct it. David "strengthened himself in the Lord his God." He sought the Lord and did the right thing. He inquired of God. He prayed. Then, he did just what God said. He may not have felt like doing it, but he got up and did it anyway. He followed God, and God restored all of their family members, and the spoils they received were huge. God encouraged their hearts, as they obeyed him, and they all came out of their depression. The same can happen for any of us.
Physical rest helps, if it is not overdone. Eating right helps. Exercise and sunshine help the body overcome the effects of depression. The key, though, is seeking God and acting on what He says, no matter what. Then, when we see Him work, we are encouraged, and we know things are not hopeless. When we see His power, we are set free. That is my prayer for all of us today. I am so glad God delivered me, and I know He can and will do the same for you.
Tomorrow, I intend to read I Samuel 31 and II Samuel 1-3.