I have read over the years numerous articles/books written by various doctors on depression and in every single one, they all come to the same conclusion that they do not know what is the cause of depression. Even the ads on television say the same. I am not claiming to know all the answers but there is something I have come to understand in the years of dealing with people and God's word is how much God's word addresses depression, giving us insight. I am very sensitive to people in their depression and we all have had some bout with it at one time or the other. I have taught classes about it! Again, I am not claiming I alone possess the answers!
Here is how depression is defined in some medical books: "a state of sadness, characterized by feelings of hopelessness and inadequacy along with a decrease in functional activity." Depression makes the smallest of tasks extremely difficult. It is extremely difficult to get people out of a deep state of depression because they have no desire and have become introverted (a self centered state where all you can sense is your problem). Here is something I have discovered and will address from God's word. Depression is a response! It is a reaction to certain situations in your life. People can become depressed at the loss of a loved one, a child, and changes in ones body. People lose jobs and find their world is turned upside down, feeling worthless. Women hit that stage in their lives and they realize youth is gone! Sometimes people put their heart into something and when it does not work out or is lost, it crushes us and we react to that loss. Financial strain or loss can cause depression. Men that were athletic and find they cannot do what they use to can create depression. If a woman is sensitive about her beauty, it can cause her to react as she ages.These are reactions. I know medicines can cause depression but those are few and far between. I am not addressing that. Depression is mainly a response from within your being!
Depression is a reaction that takes place in the mind. Depression is a reaction that works off our emotions. One's mind set will determine how they view and react to situations they face! If one is not taking care of their spiritual side, which many do not, there is nothing from within to draw from in stressful situations, which makes one react the wrong way. Listen carefully to Paul in his instruction given to the church at Corinth. We read these often but never slow down to think about what he is teaching us: "Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison." (II Cor. 4:16-17) If you noticed, the inner is being renewed day by day. That's where our failure begins. We allow things to beat on us and it takes us down, never knowing how to renew the inner man. We react to the difficulty on our spiritual side and because little has been done to renew that side, we find ourselves helpless and hopeless in the situation. Paul speaks of his 'light affliction' that he faces. Read II Cor. 11:25-28 and see how much he went through and he calls it light affliction! We could not begin to bear the things he went through. There is something about our spiritual well being that we miss.
One of the major and greatest causes of all depression is sin and the guilt that incurs! The feelings of guilt and shame at our failures stays with us, on our spiritual side and we cannot escape it. No one knows the shame and guilt within the heart and mind except the one who has failed. They see their lives as a loss and no amount of 'positive' encouragement will change that feeling of loss within that person. Their shame and guilt stays in their conscience and their mind set has pushed their lives into depression and it is a daily battle within their being. It wears them out emotionally! That's why the smallest of tasks seem like a mountain. The emotional side has robbed them of any desires. The spiritual side is so weak, the physical, emotional begins to control every part of their being. If we can understand and grasp some basic spiritual principles, we can find help and keep our lives where the Lord wants them to be and avoid depression.
I realize in writing this, there will be some who will throw a fit at me. I have dealt with many depressed people over the years in my counseling. So many have given their minds and hearts to the medical profession rather than what the Lord addresses and believe more in the medical than spiritual. (I am not professing we don't need medical help in certain situations. I am trying to get us to see the cause of most depression! Please understand that!) Learning how to set our minds on proper things, knowing how to react properly in certain situations and what to do when we are faced with our guilt is the key to overcoming. Let's look through the eyes of God! Let's let the God who created us fix us! I find more people in Christ put more faith in "professionals" than the Lord. What does that say about us?
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