In Your Ship: Depression

Depression. It is a word all by itself. It leads to a world of mental and physical disaster. It can literally destroy your body, and even worse, it is contagious. It is a piece of baggage that will surely keep your rocket from blasting off full speed into the promises of God because it clouds your vision.  If you or someone you know has been in a pit of depression, keep reading.

Depression is one of Satan’s forbidden fruit. It is one of his most prevalent, yet unrecognized tools that he uses on the saints. Our minds were so trained to think negatively before we knew Jesus, that we easily let negative thoughts creep into our minds and before we know it, we agree with them. DO NOT AGREE!

Many times we blame the negative emotions on our flesh because our flesh is where ALL of our emotions lie. So, with that being said, who said that we had to activate the negative emotions? (anger, sadness, worry, anxiety…etc.). Your emotions follow what you allow yourself to think. If you allow yourself to think depressing thoughts, then you will become depressed and so on.

Good News! This works the opposite way as well. If you think uplifting thoughts, then you will be uplifted.  Someone is saying as they read this,” I don’t know how or it’s difficult”.  Below are six helpful things to do in order to encourage yourself during trying times.

1. Cast Down the Negative Thought(s)

First and foremost, when a negative thought (a thought that does not magnify what God has promised you in his word) comes into your mind cast it down. Rebuke the thought and replace it with a positive one.

Ex: Negative thought: “This is too hard, I’m tired of trying” 

Replacement thought: “ Nonsense! I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

2. Cry out to God

Take this literally. I have been in this situation plenty of times and I know how it feels to not want to include someone in your pity party. God wants to be included. He wants you to cry to him and tell him you worries and all your dirty fears, but He wants you to give them to Him and allow Him to take them away. David cried out to God in Psalms all of the time.

3. Count Your Blessings

Again, take this literally. Once you begin to count your blessings starting from waking up in the morning, you will begin to see why you should trust God to bring you out.

4. Read Scriptures on Depression

That stuff works. Go look up every scripture on depression and meditate on them. You can look them up online or some Bibles have them listed in the front or back. You will begin to realize that you are not the first person God had to bring out of the depression pit so He has plenty of experience.

5. Give Yourself a Pep Talk

In Psalms 42:5-6 you see the writer, who was depressed, talk himself out of it. It is the basis of what we should do when we feel Depressed. Go read it.

6. Talk to a Saint

Find someone that you know is in God FOR REAL and talk to them. They will be able to offer you great encouragement. As I always say, Contact me via email kekerockette@hotmail.com .

Peace,

Keke Rockette