Depression is a reaction and in most cases, it is the result of past guilt staying within the being of a person. Over the years, the guilt becomes buried but it is always right there, ready to surface. When a tragidy hits or a difficulty, if a person has unforgiven guilt, it will surface within them and take them into depression. When people get to a deep stage of depression, only by an act of God will they come out of it. What we need to learn to how to avoid getting to that state of being.
To begin with, we need to learn to have a proper mind set now! "Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials." (Jam. 1:2) To "consider it all joy" means you do not diagnose asking why but understand what is gained through the hardship. If we decided today, before our next trial comes (and it will) to live for the Lord and not fear tomorrow, your mind is set toward the Lord and His will today so fear is eliminated. When a trial comes, if we "consider it all joy", we will have the right attitude during the trial. This is an attitude, not a feeling! Here is why a person in Christ can do that: "Knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance." (Jam. 1:3) What are trials for? To help you get stronger toward the Lord! The word "testing" is a word used for refining precious metals. As gold/silver are refined, they are heated over and over, with each time, the impurities come to the surface and are skimmed off. Each time, the precious metal is becoming more and more pure. That is what trials do to us! If I will have the proper mind set and attitude when I encounter a difficulty, no matter how much it hurts, I can know that God will use it to weed out impurities in my life, making me stronger toward Him, which brings me to endurance. If I "consider it all burdensome or misery", my life will head down a path of anxiety, fears and misery and everyone around me will be affected by that attitude. Your faith will erode away and you will be left worse off than before the trial. Do we have things in our lives that need to be taken out so we can become more Christ like? "And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing." (Jam. 1:4) Do you want to become stronger spiritually? How did James say that happens? To become perfect (mature) and complete (the lacking parts of you becoming stronger) means we have to deal with our problems with the right attitude and mind set, knowing what God will do for you through these difficult times. Setting our minds is one of the most powerful faith builders God wants from us (Col. 3:1-4). God wants us to mature and this is one of the greatest ways God uses to help us. This keeps depression at bay and faith intact.
If we have the proper mind set, even though it hurts but understanding things from God's side, what is needed? Wisdom! When we encounter difficulties, how easy is it to sit back, cry, moan and complain? Where do those things take you? It does not mean you will not feel the hurt and pain but your mind set is most important because you know what God will do with the hurt you face. Faith in the promises of God changes your attitude! You need wisdom to know how to work through the difficulty, making the proper moves. "But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him." (Jam. 1:5) Where is the real source of wisdom? Does God really have the wisdom to help me and share with me? If we have a genuine faith, we will respond to Him. Why do we allow things to take us down so far into depression? The wisdom available to us from God is so great and vast, all we need to do is look at this universe and see the wisdom it takes to keep this universe running on course. Just think about the wisdom it took to create our bodies from dust and make all the little parts within us work! God says, "Ask Me!" Is He willing to help? Today, when people find themselves in deep difficulties and depression, they always say, "No one knows how I feel unless they have walked in my shoes!" That is an introverted statement!! (Introvert is one that is self consumed, self centered and unstable.) With that statement and mind set, there is no reaching out but only a depressed state of being that does nothing but complain and wants everyone to know it! Does God know we do not have the answers? The only question left is do we really want His help and wisdom? Do we really see Him as the source of power and wisdom? And the beauty of God, He will not belittle us ("without reproach") because we do not know! He is caring and compassionate. Will we have a proper mind set?
Depression is a reaction. I will deal more with the guilt side next. Our mind set is crucial in moving forward spiritually.
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