(Continued from Part 7)

Sixth, act on your worries.  Worry infects.  Fix the problem.  Change the attitude.  Jesus said, “Do not worry about your life…” (Matt. 6:25).  Paul said, “Do not be anxious about anything…” (Eph. 4:6).  To really do this you have to first trust God to take care of you.  This does not mean God giving you everything you want or think you ought to have.  This means trusting that what he does give you is what you really need, even when it is hardship (Heb. 12:7).  Paul said, “If we have food and clothing, we will be content with that” (1 Tim. 6:8).  Focus on what you have not on what you don’t have.  God’s promise is certain, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (Rom. 8:28).   That’s why he goes on to say that in Christ we are MORE than conquerors through Christ (Rom. 8:37).

Seventh, take care of marital and other family relationships.  Many other seemingly oppressive life issues are really masking underlying relationship problems.  If you are having marital problems, sit down and try to iron them out with your mate.  Don’t play useless and silly mind games that are really just deceptive forms of manipulation.  They’re useless and frustrating and will always ultimately end badly.  Grow up.  Tell the other what you need, what you think and/or what works for you, without accusing or threatening or belittling them.  You’ll be amazed how well this will work, especially if you don’t let weeks, months, or years of junk accumulate.

Eighth, stop feeling sorry for yourself.  Self pity is a killer in so many ways.  It really is the opposite of thankfulness.  Notice the connections Paul makes in the following: “Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thess. 5:16-18).  Joy.  Prayer.  Thankfulness.  Take a dose and see how it makes you feel.  And note in Isaiah 55, when God asks why we spend money and labor on what is not food and does not satisfy.  Ultimately, he tells us what the purpose of his word is in our lives, “It [God’s word] will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.Instead of the thornbush will grow the pine tree, and instead of briers the myrtle will grow” (Isa. 55:11-13).  God desires us to have joy and peace!  God sent his word for us to have joy and peace!  God’s word and striving to obey it is the secret of life satisfaction.  And, be careful assuming that every doctrine out there is really God’s word.

Ninth, foster healthy friendships.  I can’t stress this enough.  If you are depressive by nature, don’t seek out and hang out with other depressive people all the time.  You need to hang out with people who don’t struggle with dark thoughts.  If upbeat friends can’t get you out of depression, they will insist you go get help.  And, that’s real friendship.  I’m not saying drop your friendships with people who deal with depression as you do.  What I am saying is that make sure you have plenty that don’t.  And, don’t seek to make these friendships chances for you to unload every time you’re together.  Try to let the other lead the conversation, as they won’t generally focus on depressing things.  I believe that thought processes are very contagious.  Negativity is a thought process as much as it is a belief.  Positive thinkers will have a very positive impact on you.

Tenth, get your deeper joy from the reality of Christ.  Paul’s words in Phil 4:4-13 are, in my estimation, some of the most pertinent words in the whole Bible in addressing depression spiritually.  Starting at the end he concludes, “I can do everything through him who gives me strength” (v. 13).  Now, it’s easy to assume he’s talking about the power to conquer things and do things.  It does sort of mean that.  But, if you’ll look what he says just before that you’ll contextualize it better, “I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation…” (v. 12).  He’s talking about learning to be content whatever the circumstances.  What is it he had learned that brought him contentment?  Well, look further back in his logical progression, “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you” (vv. 8-9).  Focus on things that are excellent and praiseworthy.  Yes, it does take mental discipline.  But, put it into practice and you’ll get better at it.  

Finally, go back to the start of the discussion, “Rejoice in the Lord always…the Lord is near” (vv. 4-5).  This is not talking about being “happy” here.  It’s talking about the central thought of where you get your deep inner joy.  When you want to feel real joy you think about things you have that are precious to you or to things you look forward to.  He’s saying think about what you have in the Lord.  Rejoice in the Lord.  God demonstrated an incomparable and inconceivable love for each of us in what he did in Jesus, “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom. 5:8).  God demonstrated it.  Our ultimate joy is what God desires.  But you ain’t gonna get it from stuff in this world because that will ultimately disappoint you every time.  I spend a lot of time processing that kind of disappointment with those that go there.  What we gain from the reality of the gospel will never disappoint us.  Just look a few verses earlier in Rom. 5:5, “And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.”  This singular reality is the spiritual antidote to depressive thinking—the hope of God.  I’m deeply loved, I’m badly wanted, and I’m richly blessed.

If I get that, I can better accomplish what he commands next, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:6-7).  The God of peace will guard your hearts and minds.  Yes, you have to work at it, “…work out your salvation…” (Phil. 2:12).  But in doing that always remember, “… it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose” (Phil 2:13).
You really can win this battle.