A Christians Response To Depression

The following is a result of my own struggle to overcome despondency and depression, and the light that came to me through the word of God. Despondency and depression are not signs of humility and repentance, they are the works of the devil and are to be resisted. Despondency looks towards past weakness, failures and sins and expects more of the same to come. If that point of view is entertained for a long time, it acquires strength and appears to be reality. Depression is the result. Faith looks towards our high calling in Christ Jesus, and expects God to complete the work that He has begun in us. Confidence, joy and strength are the result. We find the truth about our past failures and sins in the Word of God: If we repent and confess them, God forgives them, cleanses us from all unrighteousness and doe not remember them anymore: 1Jn 1:7-9 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. (8) If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. (9) If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Heb 10:14-17 For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. (15) Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before, (16) This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; (17) And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. If God does not remember our sins any more, what right do we have to dwell on them? If we do fall into sin, we need to acknowledge that (1 Jn 1:8) and confess. And that is the end of that, God is forgiving us and cleansing us. So, how do we overcome lingering thoughts of shame and doubt? By drawing close to God: Heb 4:14-16 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. (15) For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. (16) Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. Heb 10:19-24 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, (20) By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; (21) And having an high priest over the house of God; (22) Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. (23) Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) (24) And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Let me call your attention to two things that the Holy Spirit, through the Apostle Paul, is emphasizing in these verses: We are to come boldy before God, and we are to hold fast our profession. Both are essential and support each other. Boldness comes from full assurance of faith in the redeeming power of the blood of Christ and the work of the Holy Spirit, by seeing that we have a great high priest. The profession of our faith is the way in which we build boldness and assurance: We profess the truth about who we are in Christ, we profess the word of God with our mouth. This is not a one time event, but an ongoing spiritual discipline, wielding the Word as the sword of the Spirit, and feeding on the Word as spiritual food: Eph 6:13-17 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. (14) Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; (15) And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; (16) Above all,

taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. (17) And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Mat 4:4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. 1Pe 2:2-3 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: (3) If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious. Using the word of God as our weapon and food is the practice of Christian meditation, the daily profession of our faith. Let us turn away from looking at our past and fix our gaze upon Christ, even Christ in our brothers and sisters in the Lord, so that we may be changed into His image, from glory to glory: 2Co 3:17-18 Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. (18) But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.