S
Seaioth
Guest
Hello brothers and sisters in Christ. I would like to recommend an excellent biblical book, called Down But Not Out, by Wayne Mack. It is truly a blessing and it is my prayer and desire that you read it.
In addition here is an excerpt from Jim Berg's Changed in HIs Image. May it be edifying to your souls.
Basics for Depressed Believers
A Depression in the Making
For several weeks, Carol had noticed that Susan had been less talkative and less willing to do things they usually did together. When she asked Susan about her mood, Susan said that life did not seem worth the effort since her parents divorce. Carol tried to encourage her friend, but she felt her words were not getting through. Then one evening Susan called and told Carol she wanted to end it all. Alarmed, Carol begged her to get some help.
Negative Feelings
Disappointmentà Discouragementà Depression
Susans emotions are clearly toward the low end of the negative-feelings spectrum, but all of us feel down at times. Negative feelings may range from mild disappointment to normal discouragement. To serious depression like Susans.
If we are to understand depression-the most extreme down times- we need to look at its causes. Once we see the dynamics involved, we can seek a biblical solution.
Sometimes Our Bodies Hinder Us
Depression is occasionally the result of a bodily malfunction: a thyroid condition, certain infections, unstable hormonal activity, reaction to medication, and so forth. If depression persists, a physician should be consulted in order to diagnose and treat any genuine organic causes. True medical conditions of this kind, however, are seldom the cause of the depression we encounter in our lives. Too often, though, even, when no organic cause is identified, some physicians still prescribe an antidepressant as the primary intervention.
In some cases the drugs do give patients a life, but unless there is a truly identifiable medical condition, drugs merely mask the real cause of the problem: mishandled problems of living. Unless such problems are addressed biblically, the medication has to be maintained to keep patients emotionally stable. There is a better way, however of dealing with the down feelings.
The Real Problem for Most of Us
The depression most of us experience is the result of a wrong reaction to certain losses in life. Heres how it works:
God designed us to experience a down emotion anytime we lose something that is important to us. The loss can be tangible like the loss of a loved one, a job, a pet, a friend, or money. Or it can be an intangible loss like loss of respect in someones eyes or a loss of control in some area.
When we think about the loss, we can experience what the Bible calls sorrow-the God-given emotion of loss. It is the inner ache or hurt we experience when we think about our loss. Jesus experienced sorrow in the Garden when He thought about the upcoming loss of fellowship with His Father when He would bear the sins of the world and experience the agonies of crucifixion. (Matt. 26:38; Isa. 53). The example of Christ in the Garden is a clear testimony that sorrow, in itself, is not useful.
Depression is the result of sorrowing without hope. We lose hope when we start thinking that things will never get better or that there is no purpose for our pain or that no one else has to go through anything similar. When we become convinced that nothing can be done because the situation is hopeless, we experience depression-sorrow without hope. Below is a summary of the dynamics of depression.
Step 1. Normal Experience When we Lose:
Thoughts of Loss à Sorrow (Emotion or less)
Step 2. Unbiblical Response to Loss:
Sorrow without Hopeà Depression
Understanding and remembering the following warning can help us handle depression biblically:
Watch how you muse
And what you chose
When you lose
Lets look at this warning one phrase at a time.
First, Watch How You Muse When You Lose
Muse means to ponder or meditate; to consider or deliberate at length. Generally, emotions are the byproducts of thoughts. We cannot sustain any emotion without thought. We cannot sustain romance without thinking about someone a certain way. We cannot sustain anger without thinking about what the other person has done to us. To change the emotion, we must change the thoughts. We begin by asking some very hard questions and by giving some honest answers.
(Continued on next post)
In addition here is an excerpt from Jim Berg's Changed in HIs Image. May it be edifying to your souls.
Basics for Depressed Believers
A Depression in the Making
For several weeks, Carol had noticed that Susan had been less talkative and less willing to do things they usually did together. When she asked Susan about her mood, Susan said that life did not seem worth the effort since her parents divorce. Carol tried to encourage her friend, but she felt her words were not getting through. Then one evening Susan called and told Carol she wanted to end it all. Alarmed, Carol begged her to get some help.
Negative Feelings
Disappointmentà Discouragementà Depression
Susans emotions are clearly toward the low end of the negative-feelings spectrum, but all of us feel down at times. Negative feelings may range from mild disappointment to normal discouragement. To serious depression like Susans.
If we are to understand depression-the most extreme down times- we need to look at its causes. Once we see the dynamics involved, we can seek a biblical solution.
Sometimes Our Bodies Hinder Us
Depression is occasionally the result of a bodily malfunction: a thyroid condition, certain infections, unstable hormonal activity, reaction to medication, and so forth. If depression persists, a physician should be consulted in order to diagnose and treat any genuine organic causes. True medical conditions of this kind, however, are seldom the cause of the depression we encounter in our lives. Too often, though, even, when no organic cause is identified, some physicians still prescribe an antidepressant as the primary intervention.
In some cases the drugs do give patients a life, but unless there is a truly identifiable medical condition, drugs merely mask the real cause of the problem: mishandled problems of living. Unless such problems are addressed biblically, the medication has to be maintained to keep patients emotionally stable. There is a better way, however of dealing with the down feelings.
The Real Problem for Most of Us
The depression most of us experience is the result of a wrong reaction to certain losses in life. Heres how it works:
God designed us to experience a down emotion anytime we lose something that is important to us. The loss can be tangible like the loss of a loved one, a job, a pet, a friend, or money. Or it can be an intangible loss like loss of respect in someones eyes or a loss of control in some area.
When we think about the loss, we can experience what the Bible calls sorrow-the God-given emotion of loss. It is the inner ache or hurt we experience when we think about our loss. Jesus experienced sorrow in the Garden when He thought about the upcoming loss of fellowship with His Father when He would bear the sins of the world and experience the agonies of crucifixion. (Matt. 26:38; Isa. 53). The example of Christ in the Garden is a clear testimony that sorrow, in itself, is not useful.
Depression is the result of sorrowing without hope. We lose hope when we start thinking that things will never get better or that there is no purpose for our pain or that no one else has to go through anything similar. When we become convinced that nothing can be done because the situation is hopeless, we experience depression-sorrow without hope. Below is a summary of the dynamics of depression.
Step 1. Normal Experience When we Lose:
Thoughts of Loss à Sorrow (Emotion or less)
Step 2. Unbiblical Response to Loss:
Sorrow without Hopeà Depression
Understanding and remembering the following warning can help us handle depression biblically:
Watch how you muse
And what you chose
When you lose
Lets look at this warning one phrase at a time.
First, Watch How You Muse When You Lose
Muse means to ponder or meditate; to consider or deliberate at length. Generally, emotions are the byproducts of thoughts. We cannot sustain any emotion without thought. We cannot sustain romance without thinking about someone a certain way. We cannot sustain anger without thinking about what the other person has done to us. To change the emotion, we must change the thoughts. We begin by asking some very hard questions and by giving some honest answers.
(Continued on next post)
