Help for Depression – Part 1

This article was written by a dear friend in my life. Thank you, you know who you are. This will be a 3 part article. According to the National Institute of Mental Health. "major depressive disorder affects approximately 14.8 million American adults, or about 6.7 percent of the U.S. population age 18 and older in a given year." http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/the-numbers-count-mental-disorders-in-america/index.shtml A Poll conducted by the CDC says that about "9% of Americans report they are depressed at least occasionally, and 3.4% suffer from major depression." http://www.webmd.com/depression/news/20100930/how-many-in-united-states-are-depressed Most Americans probably have a family member that has experienced at least a temporary episode of depression at some point in their lives. These episodes can be brought upon by major changes in their lives that cause high levels of stress such as the death of a family member, a job loss or career change, divorce, a relationship break-up, financial problems, a midlife crisis, a diagnosed illness or disability, a National Crisis, or other tragedy. Sometimes, Christians may begin to feel depressed over a sin they committed or that someone has committed against them. They find it difficult to forgive the other person or to forgive themselves. Sometimes, some of us may feel separated from the love of God and Jesus Christ over a sin we committed that we cannot believe that Jesus would forgive us for. We may view that sin we committed as unforgivable.

Sin in our hearts separates us from God and it is important to repent of the sin so we can remain in fellowship with God and Jesus Christ. Forgiving ourselves and others is equally important. Jesus tells us in Matthew 6:15 “But if you forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” I know this is not always easy, but God already knows the weaknesses of our heart and we can pray to ask him to help us to forgive others and to heal the hurt they have caused in our hearts.

You may say to me, “You have not walked in my shoes. You have absolutely no idea how I feel.” I may not know how you feel, but I know the One who knows how you feel. Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who is also fully God, came to Earth as a man to walk in the path of sorrows, humility, poverty, and suffering.

Jesus suffered a gruesome death on the Cross. He did all of this just for you! He experienced the sufferings of mankind so he could heal our broken hearts and take away our pain. He can relate to everything that has happened to any of us.

“He was despised and rejected by others, and a man of sorrows, intimately familiar with suffering; and like one from whom people hide their faces; and we despised him and did not value him.” Isaiah 53:3 ISV

Many people suffer depression because they do not feel that anyone loves them. They measure their success or failure by the world’s standards, or whether their spouse or person they are dating loves them unconditionally. Today, many teenagers are experiencing depression over a breakup or because they have feelings for someone who does not return those feelings. Stress over grades, performance in sports, or acceptance into college can also cause depression.

Please remember that Jesus wants our hearts and our love and commitment to him. Although he wants us to do our best in all areas of our lives, his measurement of who we are as a person is first and foremost, that he loved us so much that he came to earth to die for us. Secondly, Jesus wants our hearts, not our trophies or diplomas.

We should always remember to view ourselves and others the way God views us, with unconditional love. I know that many people begin to become depressed over a relationship breakup, a divorce, or an unfaithful partner and although God can show us how to love others including our enemies, we must never let our love for another person be greater than the love we have for God and Jesus Christ. That includes being in relationships where the other person hinders our relationship with Jesus Christ. Regardless, anyone who may be in this situation is still feeling a heart full of pain and hurt. I reassure you that God can heal that pain!