Depression is very real. Well known, strong Christians also struggle with depression.
Pastor Bil refers to the 4 root causes of Depression, do you feel that there are times that you struggle with any of these causes? What do you do to prevent getting depressed or how do you overcome depression?
4 Root Causes of Depression:
Biological: a chemical imbalance, or chronic pain, hormonal changes, nutrition deficit, lack of sleep, exercise or sunlight.
Relational: going through a divorce, problems with your kids, spouse, or someone you love. Isolation.
Circumstantial: lost someone close to you, grieving over a trauma, financial difficulties, retirement, loss of job, empty nester.
Spiritual: spiritual attacks from the enemy.
Thank you Jesus for going before us and establishing our steps as we walk along the journey that you have in front of us. Today we ask you to guide us and we surrender the path that we have created in our minds and we come before you to ask your will over our lives. We are blessed to have people surrounding us and allowing us to be who you have created us to be without hesitation of being judged. Thank you, Lord for always being with us wherever we go all the days of our lives. Amen.
Scriptures
Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression, but a good word makes it glad. Proverbs 12:25 NKJV
For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. Ephesians 6:12 NIV
I am the man who has seen affliction by the rod of the Lord’s wrath. He has driven me away and made me walk in darkness rather than light; indeed, he has turned his hand against me again and again, all day long...He has besieged me and surrounded me with bitterness and hardship. He has made me dwell in darkness like those long dead. He has walled me in so I cannot escape; he has weighed me down with chains. Even when I call out or cry for help, he shuts out my prayer...I have been deprived of peace; I have forgotten what prosperity is. So I say, “My splendor is gone and all that I had hoped from the Lord.”I remember my affliction and my wandering, the bitterness and the gall. I well remember them, and my soul is downcast within me. Lamentations 3:1-3, 5-8, 17-20 NIV
Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. Lamentations 3:21-23 NIV
I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.” The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord. It is good for a man to bear the yoke while he is young. Let him sit alone in silence, for the Lord has laid it on him. Let him bury his face in the dust—there may yet be hope. Lamentations 3:24-29 NIV
The Lord is my portion; I have promised to keep Your words. I sought Your favor with all my heart; Be gracious to me according to Your word. Psalm 119:57-58 NAS
And the Lord said to Aaron, “You shall have no inheritance in their land, neither shall you have any portion among them. I am your portion and your inheritance among the people of Israel. Numbers 18:20 ESV
Let him offer his cheek to one who would strike him, and let him be filled with disgrace. Lamentations 3:30 NIV