Unfortunately, we often try to make a depressed person feel better by building their self-esteem instead of correcting the lie.
Fear, insecurity, and hopelessness are symptoms, not the cause of depression.
I’m speaking from experience. Several years ago I let a life disappointment take me into a 6 month pit of depression. Only when I quit listening to the lie did I start to recover.
And depression often tells this lie: “You can’t be happy unless…” The rest of the lie is different for different people: "unless your health improves...unless your finances improve... unless an important relationship improves...unless, unless…."
But this is the truth: our happiness depends on one circumstance alone—our relationship with the Lord.
He doesn’t always make situations happy, but His truth always gives us peace and sets us free (John 8:31-32; 14:27).
In response to several comments: This post is not meant to be a treatment guide for clinical depression nor does it take into consideration all hormonal/biological aspects of every type of depression. Instead, this devotion addresses an element frequently involved in depression.
I did not intend to minimize the complexity of depression by writing "And depression tells the same lie to everyone." So I changed that sentence to read: "And depression often tells this lie." I apologize for making my original statement so absolute.
Comments Disabled on this post: Even after I made that change, the debate in the comment section continued. I eventually felt it was better to delete some repetitious and argumentative comments and disable the comment tool.
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Same old lie, and one of the best ways to fight it is with gratitude, thanksgiving to the Lord for everything.
ReplyDeleteThank you for that correction from the Word today, Gail! Lies come so smoothly and subtly, don't they? I had never thought about correcting the lie, per se, but, instead tried to correct the persons' feelings...Hmm..so true! Lord, may many read this and heed the truth here to your glory!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Jacqueline. I always appreciate your encouragement/insights.
DeleteThis is just what I needed to hear. It is so true that our happiness depends on our relationship with the Lord. Thank you so much. God bless you.
ReplyDeleteGail: love the "Mistake" of receiving the new Bite size Bible study. I personally would like the verses included with the text. That way, if I only have a few minutes while waiting at the doctors office, etc., I don't have to spend precious time flipping back & forth on my i-pad.
ReplyDeleteAlso, regarding this article on depression, real depression is caused by a chemical imbalance. You'd go to the doctor for diabetes, high blood pressure, but not for depression. I tried to "go it alone", but God showed me that I couldn't do it by myself. I wasn't just sad, I was suicidal. I've been off and on anti-depressants for 2o years. Don't tell people it's "all in their head". You aren't helping them.
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DeleteI agree with you both. Real depression is not saying I would be happy if... Many people of the Bible suffered it. It can be a disease. Instead of a disease of the heart it is a disease of the brain.I don't like having depression and I fight it like crazy and pray all the time. I read God's word and study it. It isn't something you can just get rid of easily. It can come and go at anytime whether you are happy or sad.
DeleteI can be praising God all day and be having the best day and all the sudden it can hit me like a freight train and I will tumble down.God can and will heal but it will be in his time. Having depression is real and it is dangerous to tell someone that they can just think their way out of it. When they need real professional help.
Dear Anonymous and Crystal,
DeleteI was wondering if you read my response to the first anonymous comment to which you've replied. In part, I wrote:
"It's not possible to take into consideration all of the variables of depression when writing a short devotion, so I apologize if I offended you or made you feel like I was minimizing your experiences. I hope you know that was not my intent."
By mistake I made the above response as a "comment" instead of "reply" so it's below, and even though it was on the blog when you commented, you may have missed it.
I just want to confirm that no where have I told anyone not to seek professional help or take medicines. No where have I stated that my post covers all aspects of depression. No where have I said that depression is simply "an ungrateful heart," "something you can get rid of easily," or something we can "just think our way out of."
I'm sorry that you feel your depression was "REAL" and mine was simply a "pity party" or "bad attitude." I would think, that since you've suffered from depression yourself, you would know how hurtful that kind of remark is.
But my family and God know what I suffered, and I believe what I've written in this post. If I'd presented this post as an all-inclusive guide for clinical depression, I agree that it would be "dangerous" "irresponsible and inaccurate." But I make it very clear that my blog contains 1-Minute devotions, and that's what this is.
Sincerely,
Gail
I have edited my devotion due to these comments. Instead of saying "And depression tells the same lie to everyone" I have written: "And depression often tells this lie." I apologize for making my original statement so absolute.
DeleteI hope this will make my intent clear. As I've stated several times in my comment replies, I was not trying to simplify a complex problem or deny anyone's experiences that are different than mine.
But I must also correct the comments that say "real depression is caused by chemical imbalance"; "real depression doesn't have anything to do with circumstances." And depression is a disease of the brain, not the heart. These are some of the possible causes of depression, but they are not the only causes of real depression.
Health care professionals list circumstances, losses and traumas as possible causes of real depression. Below is one site that confirms this, but I found many more when I googled "causes of depression."
http://www.webmd.com/depression/symptoms-depressed-anxiety-12/common-causes
Thanks,
Gail
Yes, I do see that out of the 8 "causes", only 2 are related to circumstances, which is why it's so frustrating when Christians who talk about depression only focus on that and ignore the other 6 causes which have nothing to do with circumstances. What I mean to say is that depression is more than just circumstances. There are thousands of people suffering from chronic depression who have nothing to be sad about. The symptoms of depression include a very long list. It's not just being sad about something.
DeleteIf you're looking at depression that's caused by circumstances (the 2/8 causes that include circumstances), I can certainly see how a positive attitude can help. But you have to remember that there are 6 other causes that have nothing to do with circumstances, in which cases a positive attitude doesn't help.
But it really doesn't matter. I wasn't trying to argue with you, just hoped you might be willing to consider a perspective different from your own, and realize that while this might have been your experience there are thousands suffering from chronic depression that is not in anyway related to circumstances, and they can't "think" their way out of it. Just because it worked for you and your situation, doesn't mean we're doing it wrong if it doesn't work for us, maybe it just means that we have a different type of depression.
This article says the 10 biggest depression triggers are:
Delete1. Losing a job
2. sexual issues
3. empty nest syndrome
4. alcohol abuse
5. illness, chronic pain
6. divorce
7. debt and financial problems
8. infertility
9. care-giving for a sick loved one
10. menopause
http://www.caring.com/articles/10-depression-triggers
I read the other article and it didn't say which percentage of depression was caused by each of the 8 causes (and I thought 4 of the 8 seemed to be related to circumstances).
Wow, I just found this post through a link up. I agree that depression is a complex issue that can't be simplified to one cause or "cure" I typically just resign myself to the fact that most people are quite ignorant about the subject, and just go on. But I can understand others trying to educate instead, I just figured out a long time ago that ppl are gonna believe what they want regardless.
DeleteI have to say though, that caring.com article does give top 10 causes of circumstantial triggered deppression, but I agree with others that overall, most deppression is not circumstantially based. Depression can also be chemical, hereditary, etc. It's not always just because of something bad happening.
Fail, I admire that you were willing to admit your error and ammend your article accordingly. That shows character.
Thanks for the feedback on the Bite Size Bible Study format. That's the way I'm leaning as well.
ReplyDeleteAnd thanks for the feedback on depression.
It's not possible to take into consideration all of the variables of depression when writing a short devotion, so I apologize if I offended you or made you feel like I was minimizing your experiences. I hope you know that was not my intent.
But my depression was also serious, and I also felt like there was no good reason to go on living. So I believe my experiences and the things God taught me through the healing process will be relevant to some of my readers, if not all. If they don't fit your experiences, I understand completely. I actually would be surprised if anyone agreed with me all the time. I'm a fallen human being, and I will be the first to say I don't have all the answers and I make mistakes that I don't always recognize. But I'm doing my best to transmit the truths that have impacted my life.
Thanks again for adding your voice to this important subject.
Amen!!! I have seeing it very close. You know Gail. And yes we have to hold on strong from Him and only Him and He will set us free.
ReplyDeleteI work with people with disabilities, many of whom suffer from depression. When they don't have God in their lives they are hopeless. But you and I know of someone who is a strong christian and the devil still wants to destroy with his lies, but he praises and signs to The Father in the midst of the darkness in the midst of a painful depression and He listens and delivers!
What a great message Gail. Thank you for your faithfulness!
Amen, Marta!
Delete: )
Been through a similar situation - not diagnosed with depression, but battled a long time with those feelings and finding that so much hangs in the balance of what I choose to believe and what thoughts I allow. The truth does set you free- sometimes moment by moment...Thanks for the encouraging post!
DeleteThank you Gail. I agree with you and know that I or anyone else who is depressed because of a situation in their life or whatever circumstance can overcome by the blood of the Lamb, by Jesus and saying to satan to get behind me (or away from me) so that the Lord can heal us from the things in our life that hold us captive. I'm sorry...that is some run-on-and-on-and-on-sentence!!
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful day!!
My husband has been such a blessing throughout my struggles; he has been willing to stop his work to listen to me and help me come up with solutions for the problem, not just the emotion. Thank you for this encouragement and the helpful verses.
ReplyDeleteThis is a wonderful reminder to keep our focus on God, and not all of the what if's that can consume us.
ReplyDelete