"The State of Depression (2)"

I could only wish that we would pay more attention to God's word and be convicted in our hearts that it holds the answer to our every need and situation. When we talk about depression, too many buy into the worlds ideas and thinking believing that some things are physical and others are spiritual. Everything about us is tied to our spiritual side! From guilt, to anxiety to depression.

Depression is a reaction that takes place in the mind. It works off the reactions to our feelings in situations. How you view a situation will determine how you react to it. Our mind set is how we view things and will determine how we react. If we see things as a loss, they will be a loss because our mind has already pushed our lives there. If the mind is set on the things above, when difficulties hit we see what God is doing. When people live their lives around their feelings and difficulties arise, it leads them down a dark and dreary road. The only way to rise above is look at things through the eyes of God, trusting what He says is true. That's what allows your feelings to come under control.

In Jam. 1:2 we are told to "consider it all joy when you encounter various trials." The trial is not joyful but your mind set toward the trial is what will determine everything. The word "consider" literally means to lead the way before the mind. When our attitudes are not right when we encounter difficulties or disappointments, we cave in and the state of hopelessness and fears start leading the way before our minds. Before long, we are down-trodden headed to depression.

Let me offer this: would you like to be a stronger person? Do you desire your faith to be strengthened? How are you going to get there? You must change your mind and attitude about situations realizing what God is doing in this difficult trial (Jam. 1:3-4). Here are three things to consider: (1) What if we decide, before the next thing that comes, to deal with whatever it is with a proper mind set? That leads you to living today to the fullest and let tomorrow deal with tomorrow. It eliminates our fears. (2) When a difficulty/trial comes, count is as joy. Is it pleasant? NO! But what are you going to do with that difficulty? Count it all misery and depression? If we would take hold of God and His word in our mind right now, trials would not allow us to head down the wrong road. (3) "Knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance." (Jam. 1:3) What will you know about the difficult that arises? It will make you stronger if you change your mind and attitude. During your difficulty, your life is really taking shape from God's side, from within your being. God is "weeding out" all those impurities in your faith and that things that get in your way. That's what the term "testing" means. The Lord is using it to grow stronger.

Finally to conclude, Paul practiced the very things the inspired writer James wrote. In II Cor. 1:8-11, Paul saw himself burdened excessively even to the point that there was no way out of the situation. What did he learn? He counted it all joy from the standpoint he realized it was to teach him not to trust in himself, his skills or wants but in God who raises the dead. There is power in following God! There is power in changing your mind set if we submit to God. It will ruin one if they continue to be consumed with "us" and the situation during the time of difficulty!