Breaking Free From DepressionSample

The Dangers of Depression

Whatever form it may take, mental conditions are a battle that must be fought on multiple fronts: the physical and the spiritual. This reality can be intimidating at first. How can we fight against forces we cannot see? How do we know if we are winning or losing? What good are mental disciplines if the work they produce can be undone?

Here's the good news: Victory has already been won for us through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus! Every deception of the enemy is powerless against what God has declared true. With this in mind, here are a few of the most common deceptions that people struggling with depression experience:

1. A distorted view of reality: Instead of believing what God says about you – that he loves and values you and is always with you – you may believe lies – like God is disappointed in you, or that you are worthless and unlovable.
2. A false sense of urgency: Intense feelings may cause you to judge a situation too early, anticipate a negative outcome, and quit too soon because you have not taken the time to understand the bigger picture or wait for God to act.
3. A confusion of your wants and needs: You become entitled, believing you deserve success, health, and popularity. Instead of realising that everything you have is a gift from God, you think God owes you something.
4. A belief that death is the only way out of the pain: Suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem. When a person feels suicidal, it is because they believe death is the only way to end their pain. They cannot see any other options. This belief is false, but it can feel very true to people in the depths of depression.

Notice that all the dangers listed above involve deception – believing things that are not true. The Enemy is a crafty liar, but the Lord has not left you defenceless in this battle. As Paul writes in Ephesians 6, you can find strength in the Lord and his mighty power to stand against the devil’s schemes.