Help for Depression

Physical Influences	Spiritual influences	Circumstances	Uplifting Music
What the Bible Says	Local Help	Call us for Help	Beyond Blue

Definition

Depression is something quite distinct from “the blues”. It is normal and even healthy to occasionally feel a bit sad, especially if your circumstances are difficult. However, depression is more than “the blues”; it is a more sustained problem defined by sad feelings of gloom and inadequacy. It is a mental state characterized by a pessimistic sense of inadequacy and a despondent lack of activity. It generally requires professional assistance.

We recommend discussing the problem with your General Practitioner, who will be able to point you to the appropriate help. In the meantime, there are some observations we have made which might assist you.

There are many reasons why people suffer from depression; it is affected by physical, spiritual and circumstantial influences. The following discussion is designed to assist you in understanding these influences. Remember, this should be read in conjunction with advice from your General Practitioner.

It is important to state here that depression can be overcome. Regardless of causes, influences or family genetic history, God is greater and the Lord Jesus can lead you to a renewed and refreshed season of life.

Physical Influences

There is often a physical component to depression. You should chat to your GP about this before following our recommendations.

• Dietary deficiencies can contribute to depression. This includes both food and drink, and can relate to alcohol consumption and smoking.
  
• Lack of basic fitness and wellbeing. Current statistics indicate that physical exercise is one of the most effective weapons against depression. Teenagers who have been taken on very long hikes (e.g. 20k in a day) have shown remarkable changes in their depression. This is counter-intuitive, as we would expect that such exhaustion would lead to depression. How is your exercise regime? Do you need to find a way of disguising exercise so that it is more fun? This can be as simple as 20minutes a day regular walking through to a serious and dedicated team sport. What about teeing up with a friend to go to the gym.
  
• Work environment. Many modern modes of employment require people to sit at a desk or a computer with little opportunity to move major muscles and improve blood flow. Is there adequate lighting in your work place and is there clear access to natural light? Are you able to move around, or at least take breaks every hour or so to improve circulation?

Spiritual Influences

God made us beautiful, healthy, and destined to spend eternity with Him in happiness. Actually, we are the high point of His creation – the best thing He ever made! However, there are two major spiritual influences that can easily erode and decay God’s plans.

Human sin. This is the inner drive we have to be free of God, and therefore disobey and dishonour Him. This directly affects our life – especially our psychological make-up. Did you know that the psyche part of the word psychology is the ancient Greek word for soul?

A spiritual enemy. There is an enemy whose sole aim is to steal and kill and destroy our experience of all God’s goodness. He hates the fact that we are the target for all God’s love and mercy. If he can't get our life, he'll attack our health, and if he can't get that, he'll attack our happiness.

Understanding that you could be under spiritual attack might make it very much easier for you to deal with it. This is not something for you to "snap out of" because it is not necessarily something internal to you - it is something which comes from the devil. The devil is relentless and he is a coward - he will only attack when people are weakened. Hence, following the first two suggestions (diet and exercise) will make the devil's work much harder.

The practical aspect of prayer is to understand our authority in Jesus Christ: the authority over everything on the earth, which was given to Adam and Eve, was lost when they rebelled against God. However, when Jesus gave His life for us, He purchased that authority back again. Who we are in Christ establishes authority over the enemy: he will continue to try to convince us otherwise and undermine us. However we must stand firm.

Believing that you have the authority of Jesus Christ to bind the enemy and release yourself from this trap, you do not need to ask God to release you - God has already given us the authority to release ourselves (and others). Instead, taking the authority that is ours through Christ, command the enemy to release you. (Note that we cannot command God – we accept the authority He has given us… an authority which exceeds any that the devil might claim.)

When you are experiencing depression, it is most unlikely that you are feeling close to God (we all go through that). However, even in these times, people who have experienced God can recall those times - they can acknowledge at an intellectual level, that God is there and that He is in control. If this is the case, then you can speak to God, even although you might be feeling angry with God at present.

Consider Psalm 69 Read this and consider what a great reassurance it is, that King David, the most faith-filled person of the Old Testament, went through depression just like we all do. He could not understand why God had left him high and dry as he thought. Read this psalm out to God as a prayer. Some of it won't fit your circumstances exactly, but overall, the cry of our hearts is the same as that of King David.

Separately, consider Psalm 150 This is a very short and unusual Psalm; it is the last hymn of praise in the book of Psalms. If we are right in saying that depression can be an attack from the devil (and our experience indicates that this can be the case), repeating this Psalm out loud, three or four times at a sitting, will cause the devil to flee away. The devil hates to hear people praising God. There is only one thing he can do: he runs away with his tail between his legs. He is actually frightened of people who praise God. This Psalm has been a wonderful depression antidote for many people. It needs to be read aloud, and the louder the better - God does not need to hear you: the devil does.

Building on that last thought, can I suggest making some Christian declarations? Try reciting some of the following:

• Jesus Christ is sovereign over every part of my life
• I am a child of the living God. “No weapon formed against me will stand” (Isaiah 54:17)
• My God shall supply all of my need according to His riches in glory (Philippians 4:19)
• Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. (Romans 8:37)
• You were made by God, and God does not make junk. Consider the wonderful Bible words which have been pieced together into a letter from God for you as you click on the following link: www.fathersloveletter.com/text.html

Circumstances

It is completely normal to go through a time of sadness when circumstances become difficult. Causes of sustained periods of sadness include:

• Bereavement (the loss of a friend or family member)
• Ill health
• Financial difficulties
• Relationship breakdown
• Loss of job

Sometimes the sadness of these situations can be alleviated by talking the matter through with someone who cares. We would invite you to contact us (Pastor Danny on 9592 1531) or one of the other help lines provided below.

Uplifting Music

Sometimes it helps to listen to some positive music. We recommend 89.9 Light FM Radio Station for a positive contemporary mix of music and chat:
www.lightfm.com.au

Here is a selection of music we have found on YouTube which you might find helpful

• Psalm 23
• Mozart’s Alleluia
• Amazing Grace
• And Can it Be that I should gain and interest in the Saviour’s Blood?
• As the Deer Pants for the Water
• Fairest Lord Jesus
• How Great Thou Art
• I come to the garden alone
• I’d Rather Have Jesus
• It is well with my soul
• Jesus loves me
• Jesus Put this Song Into Our Hearts
• Lord, I come to You
• Lord, I Lift Your Name on High
• Open the eyes of my heart Lord,
• Shout to the Lord
• The River of God
• We want to see Jesus lifted high

What the Bible Says

1. Commit yourself to a complete recovery.
   Psalm 51:10, 12 " Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me…… Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and uphold me by Your generous Spirit."
   
2. Commit yourself to prayer and thanksgiving. God’s Holy Spirit acts at the strongest point of His power when you commit yourself to prayer, and have a grateful attitude toward Him.
   Philippians 4:6 "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God."
   Jeremiah 29:11, 13 “11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope……. 13 And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.”
   
3. Even if you don’t feel like it, commit yourself to praising God and trust in Him.
   Psalm 42:11 “Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; for I shall yet praise Him, the help of my countenance and my God..”
   
4. Commit yourself to an intimate relationship with your Heavenly Father.
   Matthew 11:28-30 “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
   
5. Commit yourself in recognizing yourself as a child of God.
   1 John 3:1-2 “1 Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. 2 Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.”
   
6. Commit your own body to God.
   1 Corinthians 6:19-20 “19 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? 20 For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s..”
   
7. Commit yourself to the renewing of your mind.
   Romans12:2 “2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”
   
   2 Corinthians 10:3-6 “3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, 6 and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.”
   
8. Your situation is not hopeless.
   Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Leave this matter to God and trust Him, “by whose stripes you were healed” (1 Peter 2:24). He is faithful and will see you through. He will not abandon you. He promised Matthew 28:20 “I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Come to Him right now and accept Him into your life, trusting Him for your complete recovery.

Local Help

Click on the link for specific help.

Lifeline - www.lifeline.org.au
Citizen’s Advice - www.bayciss.org.au