Sometimes people ask me "Isn't my depression spiritual warfare? Isn't Satan attacking me?" Well, I certainly believe in spiritual warfare - because Scripture tells us in Ephesians 6:12 : "For we struggle not against flesh and blood, but against the kingdoms, against the powers, against the world leaders of this darkness, against spiritual wickedness in the high places". And the Bible also warns us that "your adversary, the devil, walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour" (I Peter 5:8)
So, is everything undesirable that happens to us a casualty of this battle? I don't think so. Yes, we need to be sober and vigilant (I Peter 5:8a) and yes, we need to be armed and able to wage war successfully (Ephesians 6). But we don't need to fear and we don't need to always chalk all our problems up to The Enemy of our Souls. I like how John Piper puts it "Give the devil his due, but no more".
Use the offensive weapons that God has designated for this purpose (The Word and prayer). Keep your armor on (helmet of salvation, shield of faith, a heart protected by right-living, belt of truth and feet that are prepared to go and live the Gospel wherever He leads). Absolutely.
But let's remember a few very important points.
1. Satan was defeated at the Cross. Not only did Jesus pay for our sin, He disarmed the rulers and authorities of darkness, ridiculed them, triumphed over them (Colossians 2:14,15)
2. We who are in Christ are filled with this same power. I John 4:4 assures us that "greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world".
3. Yes, Satan is powerful and we shouldn't forget about him. Yes, he wants to steal our joy and he actually wants to destroy us. But he has already been defeated. We can be victorious in our battle with him if we apply Scripture.
4. Sometimes, we need to acknowledge that our own flesh is at least as powerful an enemy as Satan. He would love to take credit for our depressed state because he loves the attention and he knows that will keep us from focusing on our personal responsibility. If we fight the wrong enemy, we will continue in defeat.
So, yes, sometimes we are attacked by spirits of despair and despondency. Absolutely. But we don't have to yield to them. We can fight back because of Christ's victory over them. However, let's don't attribute more to the Defeated One than necessary. Sometimes, we need to deal with our own sin.
Amen.
Be happy - tip #13
Let's review the tips so far:
1. Check out possible physical problems (fatigue, hormones, illness)
2. Acknowledge God's command to be joyful
3. Don't blame others - accept responsibility for your own joy
4. Confess sin
5. Address systems errors (ways to do things better/more successfully)
6. Accept the unchangeables.
7. THE WORD - get in it.
8. Pray. And listen.
9. Talk to yourself - but be sure and preach the Truth!
10. Monitor music and media
11. Immerse yourself in God's creation
12. Don't go to the extreme of over-activity or of isolation.
Tip #13 - Serve others.
This is honestly one of the most effective tools to combat depression. Come to think of it, serving others combats lots of undesirable things - selfishness, boredom, insignificance, apathy, on and on the list goes. Serving others is absolutely a great idea.
Especially serving those who are poor and needy....and cannot repay you in any way.
The prophet Isaiah instructs the people of Israel how to find happiness, to be free of burdens this way:
chapter 58:6-8 - Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?
7 Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?
8 ¶Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the Lord shall be thy rearward.
Check out that passage - feeding the hungry, showing hospitality to the poor, clothing the naked is inextricably linked to joy (being free from wickedness and burdens and oppression...LIGHT breaking forth, HEALTH (!!!), and seeing the glory of God).
This may very well be the MOST powerful tip of them all.
Don't miss it.
p.s. - if you live in the Athens GA community and need somewhere to serve like this, message me. I have lots of suggestions for places that need you.
Be happy - tip # 12
We humans tend towards extremes. And, generally speaking, life is well-lived with things in balance. So it is with tip #12. When trying to shake the sad state, I have found it best to avoid the extremes of isolation and over-activity.
Either of these can push me towards feelings of depression and either can certainly prolong those feelings. Seems to me, that we can use "over-activity" as sort of anesthesia. Keeping ourselves "too busy" means we don't have time to deal with difficult issues...or to feel pain. Althought that might seem like a good thing, it's not. Pain is not always bad. It's an indicator that there is a problem that needs our attention. If we go without feeling pain for too long, we never address the problem. And so things get worse. Just as physical pain can be helpful (ever touch a hot stove?), so can emotional pain. Always avoiding the pain can lead to bigger problems. Too much busy-ness is just not good. AT ALL.
Just as too much activity/time with others is an extreme that we don't want to live in all the time, the same is true for isolation. Now, don't hear what I'm not saying. I strongly support time alone, time away from the crowds and routine demands. Time to refresh and replenish. And repair. But we were made to need other people- and for them to need us - and when we find ourselves continuously pulling away from friends and family and responsiblities....and pulling inside ourselves, we need a red light to go on in our hearts. Signalling trouble.
Happiness comes with a balance of time alone, time with others, time giving, time receiving. Check out your "extreme-o-meter" and see if you are registering too far in one direction or the other.
Be happy - tips 10 & 11
Tip # 10 - Monitor music and media
We already mentioned this briefly in another tip post but it bears being singled out as its own post. Check out your time on social media, watching movies/TV and what you are mindlessly listening to. Major mood influencer. Beware of thinking you are spending less time than you actually are. Cut out all social media and screen time for a solid week and see if you wind up with spare time on your hands.
Tip # 11 - Nature
Scripture says in Psalm 19 - "The Heavens declare the glory of God". Get out there and look at it! Use your senses to take in the wonder and glory of God - listen to a nightingale's song; look at a breathtaking sunset (or better yet- sunRISE!); taste the sweetness of fresh strawberries straight from Washington Farms; smell honeysuckle on a walk through the woods; rub the wool on a lamb's back. Experience this amazing world that God created with generous beauty. Soak in the message His creation sends - we serve a mighty God.
And He is bigger than you and me....and our sadness. Soak that truth up all the way into your bones!
Be happy tips 8 & 9
Tip #8 is a given but it's really interesting how much we think about doing this but never get around to it. Pray. Talk to God about our lack of joy. The Psalms show us that David poured out his heart to God, revealing deep emotions that almost seem irreverent. But he wasn't being irreverent - he was being transparent with a honesty that God alone can deal with. Apparently, King David knew that he needed to get the negative emotions out before they could be replaced with positive ones.
So, talk to God. Then listen to what He has to say.
Tip # 8 -- Pray.
Tip # 9 involves talking, too. Talking to yourself. I know that sounds crazy but hear me out.
Psalm 42:5, 6 records the conversation David has with his soul...and the answer he gives himself.
Why are you cast down, O my soul,
and why are you in turmoil within me?
Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,
my salvation and my God.
I find it very beneficial to monitor my self-talk --- instead of letting my soul speak lies and negative thoughts, I tell myself to instead listen to the truth. It's amazing how much of our thought life is not based on the truth. We fall prey to vain imaginations ("I'll bet so&so said/did/thought such&such about me" or "What if _________ happens? What will I do then??") and false assumptions ("He will never change" or "I can't do this anymore") and outright lies ("I am hopeless" or the equally destructive opposite "I am right" and "Nobody understands what I'm going through") Lies that steal our peace and joy. Instead of Truth. And that Truth gets me back to tip #7 -- God's Word.
When the blues threaten to overtake you, try having a self-conversation like David did. Ask yourself "why are you so sad? why are you so stressed?" Then, give yourself the answer of TRUTH before the voice of despair can respond - "My hope is in God. He is my joy and my salvation. I shall praise Him." "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" "God's love is from everlasting to everlasting. He will never leave me or forsake me". " ALL His ways are loving and faithful". His plans for me are good, plans to prosper me, to give me a future and a hope". "My heart is deceitful so I cannot trust it - instead I will trust in the Lord".
Tip #9 - Speak TRUTH to yourself.