Shutting the Door on Satan: Lesson 4 Battling Depression

Isaiah 40:28-29 Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the Lord, The Creator of the ends of the earth, Neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the weak, And to those who have no might He increases strength.

Depression defined Depression is a mood disorder that causes a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest. Also called major depression, major depressive disorder or clinical depression, it affects how you feel, think and behave and can lead to a variety of emotional and physical problems. (mayoclinic.org)

Causes of Depression 1.Loss of a loved one 2.Financial troubles 3.Inability to have children 4.Health problems 5.Relationship issues (marital or friendships)..and the list goes on.

A unhealthy frame of mind 1.Some “fake” depression, to gain attention - Often these individuals are not truly depressed but are instead self-centered.

A unhealthy frame of mind

1.Some “fake” depression, to gain attention - Often these individuals are not truly depressed but are instead self-centered. 2. These individuals can sometimes be easily identified by their response when help/advice is offered.

Depression & Psalm 42 Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Psalm 42:5a Disquieted - to murmur, growl, roar, cry aloud, mourn, rage, sound, make noise, tumult, be clamorous, be disquieted, be loud, be moved, be troubled, be in an uproar (Strongs #h1993)

Results of depression …..it affects how you feel, think and behave and can lead to a variety of emotional and physical problems. (mayoclinic.org) 1.How you feel 2.How you think 3.How you behave

Something to consider In order to overcome anything, including depression you have to WANT to overcome it.

How you feel… Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted (be troubled) within me? Psalm 42:5a - To change how a person feels they must first change their frame of mind.

How you feel… Changing how you feel should begin by returning to honest and sincere worship of God. - When I remember these things, I pour out my soul within me. For I used to go with the multitude; I went with them to the house of God. Psalm 42:4a

How you feel… There is encouragement, joy and love in sincere worship of God. I went with them to the house of God, With the voice of joy and praise, With a multitude that kept a pilgrim feast. Psalm 42:4b - Matthew 8:26 - With Christ we have nothing to fear. Romans 8:18

How you think… Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him For the help of His countenance. O my God, my soul is cast down within me; Therefore I will remember You from the land of the Jordan, And from the heights of Hermon, From the Hill Mizar. Deep calls unto deep at the noise of Your waterfalls; All Your waves and billows have gone over me.

How you think… The Lord will command His lovingkindness in the daytime, And in the night His song shall be with me—A prayer to the God of my life. Psalm 42:5-8

How you think… It seems as if sometimes the depressed keep asking the same question – “what is wrong with me” – a similar way of thinking is found in Psalm 42:5,11.

How you think… Notice the writer strives to focus on the positive – a. “hope in God” v. 5 b. “therefore I will remember you…” v.6 c. “His lovingkindness in the daytime” v.8 d. “in the night His song shall be with me” v.8b e. “a prayer to the God of my life” v.8c

How you think… Notice the writer strives to focus on the positive – Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy — meditate on these things. Philippians 4:8

How you behave… When a person is depressed a person doesn’t behave, act or live as they might normally. - Anger, wrath, drunkenness, impure sexual lifestyle, etc. Sometimes we think the depressed are those who stay home and have no interaction with others; while this is sometimes the case it can also be those who are striving for the most attention – may be those who are depressed.

How you behave… There are those who, when the music stops, the party’s over and the lights go out that the depression they are battling takes over.

How you behave… No amount of sinful pleasures can be used to counter depression; it’s almost as if they put the depression in hibernation until they are alone. - They have no true fulfillment from their lifestyle and are depressed as a result

How you behave… 3 I searched in my heart how to gratify my flesh with wine, while guiding my heart with wisdom, and how to lay hold on folly, till I might see what was good for the sons of men to do under heaven all the days of their lives. 11 Then I looked on all the works that my hands had done And on the labor in which I had toiled; And indeed all was vanity and grasping for the wind. There was no profit under the sun. Ecclesiastes 2:3,11

Conclusion 1. In life there are many reasons a person may be depressed, however through action and desire to follow God you can overcome depression. 2. Let’s always remember we have someone who is wiser than us; who is listening to our prayers and our cries.

Conclusion Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6