DEPRESSION

What is Depression?

Psychiatry.org defines Depression as a common and medical illness that negatively affects how you feel, the way you think and the way you act.

There is a reason I'm using this particular definition by the way so please, stay with me

My next statement will be this; Is Depression a Sin?

NO, IT IS NOT

It is like asking if falling sick is a sin 🤷🏼‍♀️

But is depression an affliction from the devil? Yes, it is.

Any believer can be afflicted generally, so count depression as one of those earthly afflictions.

But it is not the earthly affliction that you gloss over or accept, because it is an affliction from the devil. We must sit up and understand who our enemy is.

The enemy is not throwing darts at you for the fun of it, he is not afflicting you for fun's sake. 

John 10:10a The thief comes not but to steal to kill and to destroy.

See, the devil has an aim

In understanding this, it will guide our response for every time we feel depressed.

Depression negatively affects how you feel.

Your emotion is the first point of attack

You begin to feel not yourself 

It starts with Sadness,

Hopelessness,

Consistent Tiredness, etc 

So you just assume you need to seclude yourself.

So many times, even you cannot identify what you feel at this stage. You just know that you are feeling one kind.

But the devil is not looking at just making you feel; he aims higher. He plays the long game.

In fact, my personal observation is that people don't fall into 'full-blown' depression immediately.

These signs would have been playing underneath but we shake it off that tomorrow will be a good day. Maybe it's the economy or the state of the country or that heartbreak, it will pass.

So you are there feeling all sorts of negative things but he doesn't stop here. This is a feeling alien to you as one carrying the Joy of the Holy Ghost but it is also not a 'recognized' medical illness in this part of our world so you don't nip it immediately.

Your Christian mother who will force you to go to the hospital to treat malaria will instead reject depression for you or shout at you.

Even you, you don't hold brief for you because you do not understand 

So before you know it, it moves from feeling to thinking.

Thinking negatively about yourself 

You in that moment briefly forget that scripture in Proverbs 23:7

That as a man thinks, so is he

Your thoughts forming your identity.

Are you seeing the pattern?

I say the devil is a bastard

Your identity is your greatest tool as a believer

It is one of the things Christ had to come to the earth for, that's how important it is.

Back to depression,

Now you've moved from just feeling to thinking bad things about yourself. You are thinking words you would never have thought about yourself and your thoughts then begin to project into your actions.

You already thought you weren't good enough,

Nothing good is happening to me.

I'm not all that,

I'm not beautiful,

I'm a failure, etc 

The pattern of nature is that these things now begin to manifest in real life because as a man thinks, so is he.

The very negative thoughts are now becoming your reality.

Things begin to fall apart

You look at yourself in the mirror and you've stopped looking beautiful

I've seen people slash themselves while going through severe depression 

Like deep deep cuts

Will they do that normally?

It didn't happen a day

Affecting the Way You Act

This is when most people around you probably start noticing if they weren't attentive enough before.

It is also more difficult to reach a person here 

In fact, if you are not trained to deal with depressed people, you will be doing more harm than good.

All your perspire to aspire doesn't work too because a work has been done on their mind.

Their mind has been corrupted first to steal their joy.

This is not the time to start thinking they did something wrong or they sinned or they are not Christian enough that's why they fell.

Like I said, depression is not a sin, it is a medical illness 

My personal choice of words is that it is a psychological illness; one whose aim is to affect your mind.

Your mind is one of your core as a human; your soul.

It is what intersects your spirit and body.

So again, the devil knows exactly what he is doing and I need us to understand what is happening on the backend spiritually when we face things like this, or when we have friends face things like this so it drives our empathy.

Depression doesn't stop as a medical or psychological illness, it is a being problem.

“Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.” 3 John‬ ‭1‬:‭2‬ ‭KJV

Even as your soul prospers 

Your health is connected.

Now that we have seen the backend of depression, that a Christian can truly be depressed and it doesn't mean they've sinned or left God and, that the devil is the one afflicting in the real sense.

How then do we deal with Depression as Christians?

1. Take it to God

This sounds so cliche and I know it's not the answer you want to hear but you see, it is the first answer you need.

I do not mean to complain or be bitter at God

I mean drop it with God

Be vulnerable about how you feel about Him

"Lord I'm feeling xyz way. I don't even know why and I can't fully express it. I don't think You'd want me to feel this way. Please help me"

Simple abi?

Very very simple 

Remember that hymn

"Oh! What peace we often forfeit all because we do not carry everything to God in prayer"

Remember Job didn't have peace until God had a conversation with him.

Heaviness in the heart of man maketh it stoop: but a good word maketh it glad. Proverbs 12:25

Heaviness of heart

Anxiety 

It causes depression

But look, 

A good word,

An encouraging word makes it glad 

Again, this is not human perspire to maguire 

A good word from the Lord

A reassurance from your Abba on your identity

Those things your mind now say about you are not you 

And you really need your maker to remind you 

God is the one with the most connection to that part of you that is now closed to most people, thanks to depression 

Because you carry His DNA

So yes, have that conversation!

2. See a therapist

I don't know who told Nigerians that therapy is bad but I am telling you,

I am kneeling to tell you, that therapy is good for you.

It is not evil

It doesn't negate God or Faith 

Seeking therapy doesn't necessarily translate to you being mad.

Mental illness is an illness like every other illness.

You don't feel this way about going to the hospital for malaria

(I'd have used surgery but I know in this part of the world, we run from surgeries too 😭)

See ehn, God made man, but since the fall of man, the devil's attack went up a bit higher 

God knows all of these things and He has put wisdom in the heart of man to help ourselves in cases like this.

People who have been trained to understand emotions and how to process them.

They do not of course instantly take away your problems or what led to the depression, 

But they help you navigate and process what you feel properly.

Remember the devil's game is to use your feelings to attack your mind,

Their work now is to help you lay bare those feelings and walk you through it, until your mind begins to pick up.

It searches the You that is really you and brings it to the surface

Please seek professional help!

God is not against it!

If you are scared, look for certified therapists who are Christians (you can check with people who have used them to be sure they too have renewed their mind concerning this talk)

It's the same as having a doctor who knows his job but is also a solid Christian, deliver your baby.

You know that he is doing his job as a doctor and watching well for you in the spirit. 

Exactly! Same thing

If you ever need a therapist, I have one I use.

She is a believer and not so expensive (I know the cost of therapy discourages people too). She's very professional also and I'd be glad to share her contact.

3. Community

The devil wants you to hide and seclude yourself.

Please don't fall into this pit. Stay with your community.

Now more than ever, you need them.

4. Praise

This looks so harddddd

But it is possible (I no lie give you)

Stay in praise

Stay Worshipping God 

The devil will tell you there is no reason to, but na lie

Psalms‬ ‭42:11‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; For I shall yet praise Him, The help of my countenance and my God

The heading for Psalms 42 says Yearning for God in the midst of distresses

The distress is in plural form

Not one 

Not two

Behttt thousand 😭

I don't even want to know what David was going through at that point 

But he was really going through it 

But see?

I shall yet praise Him

Though the fig tree doesn't blossom

We will rejoiceeee!

5. Practice SelfCare

This looks so mundane and vain especially because of all that is happening but please add this to the routine. 

You know the first thing the enemy attacked was your feelings. 

Self-care has a way of making you feel good about yourself gradually 

Be faithful to your skincare routine.

Pick up a hobby that you don't necessarily have to monetize 

Dress up,

Take yourself out,

Or dress up and just take a walk.

Engage in activities that make you feel good about yourself.

Before I end, 

I want you to know the enemy is a thief of Joy

Getting out of depression sometimes is not immediate depending on how deep the slip is but look at this scripture; 

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭40:29‭-‬31‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ He gives power to the weak, And to those  who  have no might He increases strength. [30] Even the youths shall faint and be weary, And the young men shall utterly fall, [31] But those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint

It is for weak people that power exists.

It is for men without might that the strength of the Lord is reserved.

There is strength reserved for you for a moment like this

Don't beat yourself up

Take the strength

Drop all your weight before Him

I'd leave us with this scripture as I close;

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭11:28-30 “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”