I was reading a Christian magazine a while ago on ways to stay out of the pit of depression. I was disappointed in the article. Not because it wasn't true, on the contrary, most everything in it was somewhat helpful. The writer mentioned getting enough sleep, doing your exercises, watching your diet, setting boundaries, having friends you can talk to, etc. However, the writer, especially writing in a Christian magazine, had missed the key ingredient to overcoming depression - spending time with the Lord and finding answers in His love letter to us.
God is the creator of life. He has the key to living life to its fullness. He does not want you burdened down to such an effect that you feel you are in a grave that hasn't been covered yet. Many times depression is caused by hidden anger or anxiety. Both are covered quite well in the Bible. The Bible says that He will give perfect peace whose mind is stayed on Him (Isaiah 26:3). We need to get our focus right.
If I focus my thoughts on Jesus and His great love for me, I no longer am afraid of what tomorrow may bring. If I see my value as God sees it, I no longer suffer from low self-esteem. If I see His great power to create and provide, I no longer worry about having enough food for tomorrow. But the key is to spend time renewing our thought processes through the Word of God. Let me encourage you to spend time each day meditating on the Word of God, especially with a focus on Jesus because He is the Word that became flesh.
The Bible tells us to not to be anxious about anything but instead, pray about everything (Phil 4:6). Jesus tells us to cast all our cares upon Him because He cares for us. When I don't have any cares or burdens to carry, I no longer am in danger of slipping into depression. I am free. Jesus came to set at liberty those who are bound. This does not happen automatically, without our willful involvement. We are co-laborers with Christ. We work out our own growth and development (Philippians 2:12). The biggest, most important way of doing that is through our thinking process.
