For many who know me today, most would not
realize some of the heavy bouts of depression and fear I have suffered with in the past. As a child who attended a school rife with “acceptable” child abuse in the form of beatings and punishments, I had a lot of fear. As an adult, I suffered through relationship heartbreaks, the loss of family members and beloved pets, frustrations at work, and issues with my health, and for many
years I rode on an up and down roller coaster of emotions. When things were going well, I was happy but with some trepidation because I worried when the happy part was going to end. When things were going downhill, I was in fear and depression over the circumstances I was facing, and wondering if I would survive them. I never knew where to go with myself, and despite having a loving family, I always felt alone. Worse, although I believed in God, back then I didn’t believe He cared. I mean, I felt I must have been pretty small compared to the big things I imagined Him working on!
I remember times of being so sad over situations, feeling like THIS was the end of the world, and the heaviness on my heart seemed to spread out across my shoulders. There were times I would feel lost in my pain and tears, and when I was sure there was no more water inside, I would cry even more. Even as a born again child of God, for a long
time, there was still so much I didn’t know or understand.
Then as I started to dig into God’s Word and learn from good, anointed teachers, I began to grasp hold of the Lord’s love and intense care for me. It was like someone opened up my heart and began to pour life and peace and hope back into me. As I continued with the Lord – sometimes having to press through some difficult times – I began to learn and to build trust. Things were not always rosy but I began to realize that I could depend on the Lord through good times and bad. As I received revelation of Who He is and how He cares for me, I renewed my mind and heart to HIM, to how He thinks about things, to what He says. Understand, I have not arrived; I am still a work in progress. But I have come a long way from where I used to be.
These are things that the Lord taught me in order to better manage my thought life and fend off fear and depression. Remember that I will be spreading them out for the fullest benefit.
Revelation #1 – REALIZE THAT FEAR & DEPRESSION ARE NOT FROM GOD.
It is not God’s will for you to live your life in misery, in depression or fear. No offense but some folks have come up with some crazy ideas and, often because they simply don’t understand and don’t have a ready explanation, they wind up trying to “spiritualize” things
that are actually from the pit of hell.
There is nothing godly or edifying about living in tormenting fear and depression. These negative emotions, particularly when allowed to run loose, are very destructive. They do
not improve God’s people; they break them down and destroy them. GOD IS NOT THE
DESTROYER. You need to know that God is NOT the author of fear, confusion, depression, pain, sickness, and destruction in your life.
2 Timothy 1:7 says, “For God did not give us a spirit of timidity - of cowardice, of craven
and cringing and fawning fear - but He has given us a spirit of power and of love and of a calm and well-balanced mind, and discipline and self-control.”
1 Corinthians 14:33 says, “for God is not a God of confusion and disorder but of peace and order.”
Throughout Scripture, the Lord continually tells us “do not fear,” “do not be afraid,” and so on.
In John 10:10, Jesus said, "The thief (Satan) comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I [Jesus] came that they (meaning us) may have and enjoy life, and have it in
abundance to the full, till it overflows."
The Lord even assures us in Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for good and not for evil (disaster), to give you a future and a hope.”
God's Word is clear. God is good and Satan is evil. Really get a hold of this. If necessary, say it to yourself over and over until you get it: God is good. Satan is evil. God has good plans for me.