Depression

[Armapeet.Singh]

Put on the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness........

At least that is what the Bible says about depression.

[aegsm76]

Originally Posted by Esaias

Depression means a lot of different things. Are we talking about melancholy? Sadness? Feeling down? Feeling unsatisfied? Or are we talking clinical emotional flatline, neither sad nor happy? Boredom? Suppression of appetite and interests?

Some depressions are caused by circumstances. Working a job you hate can be depressing, for example. Some are caused by dietary or general health issues. Some can be caused by too much social media. Some are spiritual attacks with no apparent "cause".

Each case is different, requires unique approaches.

One thing we seem to be prone to forget is that as Christians we are called to participate not only in Christ's glory and triumphs, but in His rejection, sorrows, and sufferings as well.

I think though that a lot of Pentecostal women are depressed because they have gotten caught up in a non Biblical but religious lifestyle that does not actually promote Biblical femininity and Biblical masculinity (for their husbands). This is just a symptom of the larger societal failures creeping into the church world. In my opinion, of course.

Amen.

[jediwill83]

Originally Posted by Evang.Benincasa

Helping hand is the medicine cabinet.

Where you find Valium.

Here is an old hymnal about it.

What a drag it is getting old
"Kids are different today"
I hear ev'ry mother say
Mother needs something today to calm her down
And though she's not really ill
There's a little yellow pill
She goes running for the shelter of a mother's little helper
And it helps her on her way, gets her through her busy day
"Things are different today"
I hear ev'ry mother say
Cooking fresh food for a husband's just a drag
So she buys an instant cake and she burns her frozen steak
And goes running for the shelter of a mother's little helper
And two help her on her way, get her through her busy day
Doctor please, some more of these
Outside the door, she took four more
What a drag it is getting old
"Men just aren't the same today"
I hear ev'ry mother say
They just don't appreciate that you get tired
They're so hard to satisfy, You can tranquilize your mind
So go running for the shelter of a mother's little helper
And four help you through the night, help to minimize your plight
Doctor please, some more of these
Outside the door, she took four more
What a drag it is getting old
"Life's just much too hard today"
I hear ev'ry mother say
The pursuit of happiness just seems a bore
And if you take more of those, you will get an overdose
No more running for the shelter of a mother's little helper
They just helped you on your way, through your busy dying day

Who is getting prescriptions for Valium for depression???? Do I need to come to Florida to get the good stuff? 😂

[diakonos]

Originally Posted by Armapeet.Singh

Put on the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness........

At least that is what the Bible says about depression.

Where?





Sent from my iPhone

[jediwill83]

Folks opinions are like noses...everybody has at least one...unless you dont and then that just makes this even more awkward.


But there is no one size fits all and what I mean by that is outside the realm of God miraculously moving in someones life.


Thing is that it doesnt always happen.


Yeah I said it...God doesnt heal everyone and fix everyones problems.


Its just the truth.


It doesnt mean that God doesnt love us or care for us and neither does it mean that He isnt all powerful or all knowing.


If He moves and heals, GREAT! AWESOME!



If He doesnt, Im going to fulfill my instinct to survive and scrape and claw my way the best I can until they pat me in the face with a shovel.


The way some of you talk its like any avenue outside of Divine Intervention is reason to be derided and looked down upon.


If it worked the reason some of you talked like it does there should be no more hospitals or psych wards and everybody would be beating down your doors for their miracle cure that is 100% guaranteed but the problem is when it doesnt work and someone mentions it all these excuses are made about how its somehow that persons fault or failure why God just didnt seem to be able to make it happen.


Im not blaming God.


Far from it.


I just understand that there are things way above my pay grade that I dont understand so I read scripture and take my petitions to Him believing He can and to the best of my ability I try and try to wait on Him...meanwhile I have to function and take care of a wife, child and disabled mother none of which I can fully put the weight of MY struggles on because they cant carry that and neither do I expect them to.


So do I sit there and wait it out or do I take my pill and go about my day loving people and taking care of my family thanking God all the while?


How does me sitting in misery talking about how good God is while not trying to work out the problem the best I can on my end bring glory to Him?


IT DOESNT!


That doesnt make Him look good at all!


So I take my meds and thank God that He in His wisdom gives man the knowledge and understanding to create things to help ourselves!


If I was some monk in a cave somewhere maybe it'd be different.

[Freeindeed]

Originally Posted by UnTraditional

Good morning. This is a topic I feel I can talk openly about myself. I had battled seriuous depression over the past year, a heart crushing, soul obliterating depression that caused me to hate myself, to sink deep into darkness, and almost take my own life. My causes were both environmental as well as my own past. I have said this many times myself that I wish the church had more discernment in dealing with the masks of depression, that those suffering depression wear masks, and do wear them well. I was one of them, and instead of people seeing through my mask to help me, everyone though everything was OK.

Since November 2018, I had walked away from ministry, endured a heart wrenching breakup, lost my position due to health, and broke my back in a work related accident. I was in such a place I actually told my Mom, whom I stay with, to remove the gun from my room, so as not to go through with the notion of ending it all. I felt alone, worthless, broken, and dead on the inside. I felt no one could help me. Then, one day, as if a brekaing of storm clouds, Jesus reached down and started the healing process, one moment at a time. I began to like the broken guy in the mirror, to see myself as worth something, even when some did not. I found His strength to allow me to get out of bed, and even while still in pain of my body, go to work in the limited capacity I can now, and even with my other health issues, see myself as someone of worth, even in seeing myself as someone of worth in God's eyes.

From losing everything to starting back. I am back at my original church, and am also back at my job as an Asst. Supervisor over a high school (no physical work, but overseeing the morning work). I am at peace hoping and believing for healing, and have found strength in family. Depression is very real folks, and it can lead to suicide. It sometimes needs meds to get through it. But, for me, I needed something much deeper and stronger to come out of mine.

Thanks to the OP for opening up this discussion. I have not fully shared my story, and I actually felt a lifting as I did. Thanks to all and God bless.

Thank you for sharing your testimony.

And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.
1 Peter 5:10 | NIV

[Nicodemus1968]

Originally Posted by jediwill83

Folks opinions are like noses...everybody has at least one...unless you dont and then that just makes this even more awkward.
But there is no one size fits all and what I mean by that is outside the realm of God miraculously moving in someones life.
Thing is that it doesnt always happen.
Yeah I said it...God doesnt heal everyone and fix everyones problems.
Its just the truth.
It doesnt mean that God doesnt love us or care for us and neither does it mean that He isnt all powerful or all knowing.
If He moves and heals, GREAT! AWESOME!
If He doesnt, Im going to fulfill my instinct to survive and scrape and claw my way the best I can until they pat me in the face with a shovel.
The way some of you talk its like any avenue outside of Divine Intervention is reason to be derided and looked down upon.
If it worked the reason some of you talked like it does there should be no more hospitals or psych wards and everybody would be beating down your doors for their miracle cure that is 100% guaranteed but the problem is when it doesnt work and someone mentions it all these excuses are made about how its somehow that persons fault or failure why God just didnt seem to be able to make it happen.
Im not blaming God.
Far from it.
I just understand that there are things way above my pay grade that I dont understand so I read scripture and take my petitions to Him believing He can and to the best of my ability I try and try to wait on Him...meanwhile I have to function and take care of a wife, child and disabled mother none of which I can fully put the weight of MY struggles on because they cant carry that and neither do I expect them to.
So do I sit there and wait it out or do I take my pill and go about my day loving people and taking care of my family thanking God all the while?
How does me sitting in misery talking about how good God is while not trying to work out the problem the best I can on my end bring glory to Him?
IT DOESNT!
That doesnt make Him look good at all!
So I take my meds and thank God that He in His wisdom gives man the knowledge and understanding to create things to help ourselves!
If I was some monk in a cave somewhere maybe it'd be different.

Well, Brother I’m glad your not a monk.

This is why I started this thread, as I saw this women confessing to a conference of at least 1500+ that she prayed, fasted had her Pastor (Husband) pray and fast, had Elders in their life pray and Fast for an answer with her depression. I’ve said it several times already, and Ill say it again, it struck my heart when she said I didn’t receive my healing or maybe some may say deliverance. So as time went on she grew weary with her situation and finally the day came where she went to the doctor, and from there medication was her answer as she has claimed.

I want to get your thought on how we approach our problems. Do you think that we may be misdiagnosing our problem?

I’m not trying to offend, I understand that these situations are very tender. And I’m probably not going to say anything you haven’t heard or have knowledge of. For the sake of the discussion, tell me your thoughts on this.

The Bible says in

James 4:3
Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.

You and I both understand what James is talking about, yet could some of our issues be because were asking God amiss? Our dear Brother from Detroit, mentioned putting on the garment of praise, for the spirit of heaviness. If we come to the throne of God wanting him to heal our sickness of depression. What if its not a sickness, what if it is a spirit? Can we take a spiritual problem and solve it with physical means? I confess to you, I’ve wondered in my own life, I’m I asking God correctly? For example, while Jesus was on this earth many souls cried to him for answer for their need. Not every situation was the same, some cried because they were blind, and desired to see, some where lame and desired to walk, others had family members that have passed away, and they desired of him to make them alive! I’m not trying to be smart here, its just a thought, would’ve the blind been made to see if he asked to be healed from his lameness? Or those that enquired of the Lord on behalf of their deceased relatives would’ve they had been raised to life if they asked God to make them see?

Hosea 4:6
My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.

Brother how are we destroyed? What type of knowledge do we need so that were not destroyed? Is it just the knowledge of Acts 2:38? I bring this up, because its just a thought that has been on my heart, are we suffering because we don’t have knowledge of what were facing in sickness, life, church etc? Let me know what you think.

[jediwill83]

Originally Posted by Nicodemus1968

Well, Brother I’m glad your not a monk.

This is why I started this thread, as I saw this women confessing to a conference of at least 1500+ that she prayed, fasted had her Pastor (Husband) pray and fast, had Elders in their life pray and Fast for an answer with her depression. I’ve said it several times already, and Ill say it again, it struck my heart when she said I didn’t receive my healing or maybe some may say deliverance. So as time went on she grew weary with her situation and finally the day came where she went to the doctor, and from there medication was her answer as she has claimed.

I want to get your thought on how we approach our problems. Do you think that we may be misdiagnosing our problem?

I’m not trying to offend, I understand that these situations are very tender. And I’m probably not going to say anything you haven’t heard or have knowledge of. For the sake of the discussion, tell me your thoughts on this.

The Bible says in

James 4:3
Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.

You and I both understand what James is talking about, yet could some of our issues be because were asking God amiss? Our dear Brother from Detroit, mentioned putting on the garment of praise, for the spirit of heaviness. If we come to the throne of God wanting him to heal our sickness of depression. What if its not a sickness, what if it is a spirit? Can we take a spiritual problem and solve it with physical means? I confess to you, I’ve wondered in my own life, I’m I asking God correctly? For example, while Jesus was on this earth many souls cried to him for answer for their need. Not every situation was the same, some cried because they were blind, and desired to see, some where lame and desired to walk, others had family members that have passed away, and they desired of him to make them alive! I’m not trying to be smart here, its just a thought, would’ve the blind been made to see if he asked to be healed from his lameness? Or those that enquired of the Lord on behalf of their deceased relatives would’ve they had been raised to life if they asked God to make them see?

Hosea 4:6
My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.

Brother how are we destroyed? What type of knowledge do we need so that were not destroyed? Is it just the knowledge of Acts 2:38? I bring this up, because its just a thought that has been on my heart, are we suffering because we don’t have knowledge of what were facing in sickness, life, church etc? Let me know what you think.

Yeah the scripture in James definitely doesn't apply to just people struggling with depression...the verses before the one you posted seem to point to some other pretty serious issues dealing with the church and sin/behavior in the church.


I dont have the answers man Im just over here trying to mind my own business putting out my own grassfires best I can.


Everybody isnt created with the same temperament and mental and emotional resources, diet is a HUGE downfall I think as well. When I go total carnivore its a huge mood boost and I feel great physically, mentally and emotionally.


Ive been through enough that Ill never again Monday morning quarterback someones struggles with depression.

[navygoat1998]

Originally Posted by jediwill83

Yeah the scripture in James definitely doesn't apply to just people struggling with depression...the verses before the one you posted seem to point to some other pretty serious issues dealing with the church and sin/behavior in the church.


I dont have the answers man Im just over here trying to mind my own business putting out my own grassfires best I can.


Everybody isnt created with the same temperament and mental and emotional resources, diet is a HUGE downfall I think as well. When I go total carnivore its a huge mood boost and I feel great physically, mentally and emotionally.


Ive been through enough that Ill never again Monday morning quarterback someones struggles with depression.

[Scott Pitta]

Taking prescribed medicine for depression is no different than taking aspirin for a headache.

Go to the doctor and do what he says.