by Rex Rouis

One of our most popular pages is Scriptures Against Depression. Despair and heaviness is everywhere. It is in the news and it seems to be in the air. Last year, there were over 33,000 suicides in the United States. This is tragic, especially since there is a known cure.

God is the best answer to depression, not pills. Pharmaceuticals (e.g. Effexor, Prozac, Zoloft, Luvox, Paxil, Celexa, etc.) only mask the effects of depression; the issues remain. Read the following from Wikipedia about medication survey results:

In the published literature, anti-depressants had 94% success in treating depression. In the withheld literature, they had below 50% success. Combined, all studies showed 51% efficacy – only two points better than that of a placebo.

I am not recommending that you get off of your medication, and I am not against medical professionals. They are doing all they can. We are all in this fight together. What I am saying, is that earthly things can go only so deep. Most of our issues run much deeper. Pills can bring temporary relief but then can also mask the problem. God’s involvement goes to the heart of the issue. Only the power of God can change you on the outside and also change you deep down on the inside. He can work in our surroundings and in your heart. He starts with the heart.

I am not recommending that you get off of your medication, and I am not against medical professionals.

I am not against any form of help, be it medicine, professionals, friends, or whatever. Use everything available. There is no shame in receiving any kind of help. Helping others is just another tool in your belt. Use it.

Depression is the ‘feeling’ of hopelessness, and the simple cure for hopelessness is hope. God is the author and source of hope, so He is the one and only true antidepressant. Again, use everything at your disposal to get your head above water so you can catch your breath. Only, use that breath to also find something firm under the surface, something that you can stand on. God is there and only He can effectively support you forever. His ways are the only true long-term cure.

Each day I concentrate on three things: trust God, clean house (morally), and help others. Jared Akers

The Bible shows us the mind and ways of God. God does not want you to just manage your depression, He wants you to be totally free from depression. Believing the Bible releases His presence and power. However, one must also act on the scriptures to see His hand move – to make depression leave for good. Knowing hope on a legal level is fine, but experiencing hope firsthand is quite another thing. Feeling His approval and the joy of giving will change you forever.

Helping and serving others will do the following for you:
  • It will help you to get your attention off of your own problems. Sometimes we get in such a hole that we can’t see anything else, or find the way out. Helping others works to break this cycle, and opens our vision. It gives perspective, shows that your problems are not insurmountable.
  • In helping to heal other’s wounds, yours will heal much quicker. The love and compassion you show to others in your time of pain will come back to you in healing and joy.
  • Helping others will once again reveal your true self worth. It will show you that you do have value and that you can make a difference. We all seek this; it was planted in our hearts by God.
  • The appreciation you will feel from those you help will bring joy and fulfillment to your heart. Our hearts long for fulfillment and only by serving can we best find it.
  • You will find that you aren’t the only one with problems. We know this intellectually, but seeing it first hand is healing. Sometimes we feel like we have been singled out for pain. We are not that special. It comes to all. Receive healing as you work to heal others. Do something; get out.
  • The ‘feeling’ you get from easing someone else’s pain and stress, sometimes called “helper’s high”, can give you a mood boost.

Isaiah Chapter 58 provides information about how to get out of darkness and despair. The answer is simple – serve others less fortunate than you. If you do this you will find help. Let’s read:

Is this not the fast which I choose, To loosen the bonds of wickedness, To undo the bands of the yoke, And to let the oppressed go free And break every yoke? Isaiah 58:6

Repentance and even fasting is a first step in breaking destructive cycles. A humble heart of repentance brings God’s presence. Fasting weakens the desires and strongholds of one’s mind and flesh.

Is it not to divide your bread with the hungry And bring the homeless poor into the house; When you see the naked, to cover him; And not to hide yourself from your own flesh? Isaiah 58:7

Helping the poor and helpless is your door to recovery. Find someone who cannot pay you back, and give them something that everyone can give – love and acceptance. And if you can afford more than that, give it. Give out of your need. God will bless it. This verse says that when you shelter and help another person, you are also sheltering and helping yourself.

Then your light will break out like the dawn, And your recovery will speedily spring forth; And your righteousness will go before you; The glory of the LORD will be your rear guard. Isaiah 58:8

As you help others, the light of God’s hope and a sense of His joy will flow into your life. Your recovery will come faster than you think. The original language that is translated ‘recovery’ in this verse speaks of the healing of one’s scars. The Bible is telling us that as we labor to heal others, our scars will heal. It is a promise from the God. Believe it.

Now go out. You will have to make yourself, but do it. Take a risk; love someone. God says He will protect you. Not everyone will accept your help, but He promises to guard your heart. Keep going and don’t stop loving them. Do exactly what you would want others to do for you. Do for them what you need, and in so doing you will help yourself.

Then you will call, and the LORD will answer; You will cry, and He will say, ‘Here I am.’ If you remove the yoke from your midst, The pointing of the finger and speaking wickedness, Isaiah 58:9

Stop blaming others. Unforgiveness will destroy you. It does no harm to the other person(s). Let go and start loving others, and watch God show up. He will come to you and say, ‘Here I am, what do you need?’ Imagine how that would change your life. Allow yourself to imagine it and then go out and do it.

And if you give yourself to the hungry And satisfy the desire of the afflicted, Then your light will rise in darkness And your gloom will become like midday. Isaiah 58:10

Once you decide to satisfy others, God will satisfy you. Light will pour back into your life. Darkness will flee. Your depression will disappear as a shadow in the midday sun. It is possible, believe it and act on it.

And the LORD will continually guide you, And satisfy your desire in scorched places, And give strength to your bones; And you will be like a watered garden, And like a spring of water whose waters do not fail. Isaiah 58:11

Keep it up, and He will walk with you and be your personal guide. He will satisfy your hearts desires. It really does not matter what the conditions are around you. He will strengthen you and water you. You will become a fountain for all those around you. The water you draw for them will nourish you.

A huge aspect of being hopeless is being purposeless. In the darkness of despair, one looses sight of one’s capabilities. Find your purpose in God and you will go a long way to regaining your hope. You were made to have value, and you release your value when you value others, and you value others by serving them. In helping others light comes. Your purpose is found in finding your appointed service in God. Through the act of giving to others, God will give to you. You’ll regain your value as a person. We were made to do this.

Serving others may not be the only answer but it is part of the answer, and maybe it is the part that will activate your big answer. Go out, take a risk, help someone and then believe you will get better. Go ahead and believe for the sunshine again. It is out there. We love you.

Helping others is your door to recovery.
Helping others helps you.

Comments

  1. Helping others is a great solution to depression, stagnation and loneliness.
    Just yesterday, I chose to pray for a man who is now the shadow of himself.
    He was bubbling, but I new that something was wron with him.
    After the prayer, I discovered that energy had entered me.
    The work I was pushing forward became easy.
    Let us forget ourseves and think of others.
    If we do, life will be better for us and for others.

    1. Author

      Margaret – Praying is great, that is wonderful. Do it, but don’t forget about getting out and about in the good old sunshine and actually physically and emotionally helping someone. You can get a spiritual AND physical endorphin rush. And you get some crucial vitamin D. 😉 Rex

  2. I just want to say how much I value this group. It is so true that helping others helps you and is our door to recovery. Blessings to you all.

    1. Author

      Kay – And I want to take a moment (granted, a belated moment) to say how much I appreciate you. Your comments are much needed by all that are here. Rex

  3. Yes exactly sweet young lady. Look for the positive in everything and I mean everything you can. Take every thought captive. Medicine helps if your mind races too much. From someone who has had depression for 48 yrs

  4. Ricky l believe it is God’s will to heal all people and l thank God for your deliverance. It is His will that all are set free. Amen.

  5. Thank you for the useful ideas to serve & help others – as a carer that is my job & I guess, a way to have purpose. I too suffer from depression which feels like it’s regaining a deep grip on me at the minute. I feel stuck in a limbo & not sure what to do in the future career-wise, etc, I’m mid-30s & living at home, it seems all around me people are moving on with their lives. Just feel very stuck I guess. I do indeed struggle to trust God, yet know that I need to believe that He is & is the rewarded of those who trust Him. It’s like a blanket or veil I guess, just makes everything a lot harder to do, especially when it comes to faith. Sorry to ramble on, thank you for listening.

    1. Sounds so familiar to me, sometimes it seems like my “good” days are numbered just that way, in days, not weeks or months. Depression is always there just waiting to slide downhill. I recently saw “War Room”, a movie about faith and prayer. I was so reluctant to go but my Pastor took some of us and WOW. I laughed and cried and now, a week later, I am still talking more to Jesus than ever before. It not only affected me but actually has changed somethings in me/my life and I pray I can hold onto it. Please see the movie. It has nothing to do with military but everything to do with fighting. God bless.

      1. Hi Kay, I’m Cristine and I also left a comment on the post Scriptures Against Depression. Is there a way to communicate with you guys besides here? It would be very refreshing to talk to someone when you are feeling weak or confused or if you want to talk about certain Scriptures. Thank you!

        P.S. I have recently watched the War Room in our church and it was so moving. And as this article had said, you need to do something about it. I think that’s what’s missing with me. I don’t usually do something or follow through.

        1. Hi Cristine, I am glad you have found some comfort and help on his site, it has helped me a lot, too. I think our depression is eased right at the moment when we see that we are not the only one who has these thoughts, we are not abnormal, we are not freaks, in fact, we can now see that life is not easy for anyone, no matter how it appears on the outside. Rex was trying to find a way to allow communication other than publicly on this site, but I don’t know if there’s been progress. Meanwhile, if you want to dialogue with me, just address your remarks to me and I will respond, but we must remember this is a public discourse and phrase ourselves accordingly. As for what help might be available to you, I don’t know anything about the Phillipines or how its health system works, but if you attend church perhaps your minister might be able to refer you to free services, or the public librarian should have a list of community services. I hope the optimism I sense in your post stays with you and things improve for you. Please keep in touch.

          1. Author

            I need to get my daughter to quickly finalize the Facebook private group page. It will be totally by invitation only, and no names or comments will be seen by outside individuals. Rex

  6. Ricky-I believe every word you wrote! God is so good! What a wonderful feeling that must be! God bless you in every endevure for His kingdom! I am praying and believing that I will be set free from depression and hopelessnes.

  7. hi!,I love your writing so much! shawre we keep in touch extra approximately your post onn AOL?
    I require a specialist on this house to rresolve my problem.

    Maay be that’s you! Looking ahead tto see you.

  8. Yes he can. God miracously healed me after suffering off and on for years. I don’t care if you don’t believe but I literally felt a chain of oppression break inside my spirit one afternoon when I was praying. I felt Gods presence come into my room in no way I can describe and felt an undescribable love. In that few seconds my fear and pain instantly left and everything changed for me. I haven’t been that depressed or anxious since and that was several years ago. God set me free.

    1. Author

      Ricky – Yes, it was a spiritual breakthrough. Walk in the light of the word of God and stay free. I bless you and thank you. Pray for others, that they may also see, believe, and be set free. Rex

      1. You have been discussing Depression for years. Is it the only life challenge that requires hope and faith?

        1. Author

          Margaret – Everything in God requires Hope and Faith – initial salvation, favor, grace, healing, protection, and deliverance. Without faith it is impossible to please Him (Hebrews 11:6). Faith is the legal underpinnings of our salvation. That is why ‘justification is by faith’ and not by love.

          John 3:16 basically says that, God gives according to His love, and we receive according to our faith. It takes both – a giver and a receiver. And the only way we can believe is by faith. It is the hard truth of the New Testament. That is why we teach the ‘word of faith.’ God bless you. Rex

        2. No, of course not – but feeling that we are unable to face life’s challenges often sinks us into depression; once we are able to escape that feeling of hopelessness/helplessness, we can cope and move on.

  9. This tool doesn’t know what he’s talking about, I’m surprised he didn’t suggest exorcism as a therapy for depression. God will not help those of us with depression, we can only help ourselves. God, like a rock, doesn’t care if we suffer. Just read the letters from Mother Teresa, she talks about how often she went through such intense bouts of despair to the point where she didn’t believe in God for short periods of time. God never healed her of this affliction. According to the bafoon writing this article it’s impossible for mother Teresa to be depressed because she is THE model of service. This guys is wrong and dangerous.

    1. Author

      Junto – God is the Rock that WILL help you in your depression. But you have to see that and believe that. Otherwise, it means nothing. God is not the problem and belief in God is not the problem, but He is the answer.

      I do agree with you on one thing, that you have to help yourself. Except that, you must help yourself IN God. Many times depression is a spirit that must be dealt with as a spirit. If you do not believe in such things then you can never fully deal with one of the core issues of depression – not the only reason but one of the core reasons.

      The article Depression Is a Spirit – It Must Be Fought with the Word of God has my thoughts on the subject. As this article states, I am not against medications but they are not the end-all solution.

      By the way, I do suggest deliverance as one therapy for depression. Sometimes it is the only solution. Again, if you do not believe in that solution you are cut off from it as an option. I do not know Mother Teresa’s situation or issues. Yes, she is a great servant. But don’t look at the people that did not receive; look at the ones who did receive. There are always other things going on that you do not know about. It doesn’t matter who you are, God requires active believing, and how believing works is what this site is all about. Rex

      1. First of all, I apologize for calling you a tool. That’s not something I would normally do but I was in a really bad place when I posted my comment, extremely depressed and angry. I apologize for that.

        Your experience and understanding of God is far different from mine. It started 5 years ago when I started questioning my faith. I only wanted to know the truth and I prayed and prayed and cried out to God for answers. I simply wanted to know who God was and what he wanted from me. I received no response, nothing.

        I suffer from crippling allergies which causes chronic pain in my sinus’ and chronic congestion. These conditions cause me to have poor sleep quality. While dealing with this issue, within a 3 year span, my Dad slowly died from cancer, I had to take over a family business and I went through a traumatic de-conversion process that only someone raised in a fundamentalist Christian home would understand. Throughout all this I felt ZERO presence or communication from God even though I cried out to him daily and earnestly sought after truth. My occasional bouts of depression turned into severe depression to the point where I feel like I’m so depressed I won’t be able to find a job once my business collapses due to my lack of ability to run it from being chronically depressed.

        Still, I cry out to God and sometimes I shake my fist at him and sometimes curse him. What kind of God would allow his child to suffer like this? What’s worse, my suffering effects my innocent wife and children. It’s hell living with a depressed person. I used to think God would at some point communicate to me and help pull me out of depravity. I’ve slowly realized he will not. He will let me lose my dignity, any respect people have for me and he will let me destroy my family in the process. If God didn’t help Mother Theresa he sure as hell won’t help me. I’ve read hundreds of posts by depressed Christians, God isn’t helping them either.

        So, maybe God communicates to you and comforts you but he isn’t doing these things for me. I’m not even asking for him to fix my depression. I just need to know one thing, THAT THIS IS A PART OF A PERFECT PLAN. If it is, I can endure. Why can’t God tell me that one simple thing? Why wouldn’t he? The only reason he wouldn’t is if he doesn’t exist or he doesn’t care.

        Best of luck to all those suffering from depression, my heart goes out to you all.

        1. Dear @FaithMechanic and @Junto, thank you for this exchange. I see God in both. I was you Junto not too long ago and it is my prayer today that by Faith, I WILL be anchored where Rex is now one day soon. God bless you both!

          1. Were these people free from depression Abraham (Genesis 15) Jonah (Jonah 4) Job (Book of Job) Elijah (1 Kings 19) Jeremiah (Book of Jeremiah) David (Psalms 6) ? Did they put off God ???

            Did God save His Apostles from torture and execution ???

            Did God save His son from the worst death known in this evil world ???

            Do we strangers (1 Peter 2:11) expect smooth life in this evil world ???

            Paul says , 2 Corin 4:17 “For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever”

            I believe depression is a SIGN of a SELFISH person (Jonah 4) and the solution is Isaiah 58.

            1. Author

              EHASI – depression is not a sign of selfishness. It is a spiritual attack of Hell and a loss of hope. Sure the characters in the Bible has intense struggles, we do too. I sure do. The Bible says that anybody that serves God in this Godless world will suffer persecution and duress. Everyone will experience a time of confusion, stress and depression.

              But it is not of God and we are to fight it hard every step of the way. Some of us will be killed, tortured, or whatever, but we are still victors in Christ and we will not stop. And we surely will not say something stupid like this depression is from God. God’s plan for our lives is NOT for us to be always ‘tore up from the floor up.’ His perfect plan for us is victory IN THE BATTLE, in a close walk of faith with Him.

              This is bigger than we think and tougher than we thought. That’s okay, we will just fight harder than we anticipated. We will not say, “Oh, it must be God doing this, I will just lay down and give Him glory.” No. You give Him glory by getting up and going on the offensive. Stop staying hunkered down continually playing defense. You can’t win like that. The best you can hope for is a tie – 0-0. The Devil will smell blood and come at you harder.

              What did God tell Joshua? – “Be strong and very courageous.” What did Jesus say to the guys in the boat, scared to death from a terrible storm? – “Why are you afraid, where is your faith?’ It’s tough, sure it is, but we are expect to stand up and fight in partnership with God. I love you all. I am fighting too. We probably will our whole lives. We will all rest when we get to Heaven – for eternity. Rex

  10. Thank you so much for these encouraging messages. My mother has had depression for as long as I can remember. Ours is a dysfunctional family as a result. It is a real challenge to families living with someone with a menta illness. At times you are just enough of it…I trust God that he will heal my mom.

  11. in a team approach, to meet your therapeutic goals. PACT stands for Psychiatric Addictive Curative Therapies. As our name implies, we form a PACT with each of our clients to work together to achieve our mutual goals. We continuously strive to make each visit a satisfying experience. Please feel free to contact a member of our staff regarding your experience at any time.

    1. JESUS IS OUR JOY AND HOPE AND HE TELLS US TO REJOICE IN THE LORD GOD ALMIGHTY AT ALL TIMES.
      BELIEVE I WAS CLOSE TO BE ADMITTED TO A MENTAL PLACE TWICE, BUT SOMEHOW THE LORD BY HIS HOLY SPIRIT LED ME TO GET A HOLD OF PHILIPPIANS THE 4TH CHAPTER…TO NO CREDIT TO MYSELF; ALL THE GLORY AND THANKSGIVING BE ONLY TO GOD ALONE AT ALL TIMES.
      HE KNOWS HOW TO RESTORE US. IT IS HIS WILL HOWEVER HE HEALS US OF DEPRESSION, I DO NOT KNOW ALL THINGS, HE COULD DO ALL THINGS IN HIS PERFECT WILL FOR EACH PERSON WHO CALLS UPON HIM…HOWEVER, I KNOW THAT HE HAS ALL THE ANSWERS AT ALL TIMES. JUST KEEP ON THE GOOD FIGHT OF FAITH. HE WILL COME THROUGH, HE WILL GET YOU OUT OF THAT DARK TUNNEL. HE WILL SHINE FORTH THE LIGHT OF HIS GLORY NOW AND FOREVER AND EVER IN CHRIST JESUS NAME ABOVE ALL NAMES. DEPRESSION IS ONLY A NAME AND IT IS UNDER HIS FEET NOW AND FOREVER AND EVER. HIS NAME ENCOMPASSES HIS VICTORIOUS BLOOD…HIS BLOOD IS DIVINE AND IT IS ALL POWERFUL TO PROTECT US AT ALL TIMES FROM ALL SATANIC ATTACKS. THE WORD OF GOD PROMISES US ALL THE VICTORY AT ALL TIMES…PSALM 91…THE SUM OF YOUR WORD IS TRUTH IN CHRIST JESUS AMEN AND FOREVER AMEN AND AMEN!

  12. As a health care professional, this article is dangerous. Medication is sometimes the best answer. Depression is a very serious matter. The right prescription can fix the chemical imbalance in the brain. Are you also suggesting that God, not medication, is the best thing for someone with diabetes or congestive heart failure her? Depression is no different from other medical Illnesses. It is because of the ignorance presented in this article that mental illness still has a stigma.

    1. I don’t think anyone would advocate giving up modern medicine, esp as we acknowledge that depression is indeed an illness, but no doctor would advise even a terminally ill patient to lie down, give in and wait for the end to come. He would tell him not to give up hope, to get involved in something to “take his mind off” his situation, to find “reasons to live”, etc., and it is recognized that purposefulness, hopefulness and a positive frame of mind, all of which can be found in our Lord, are important weapons in fighting any disease.

  13. I think I get what you mean, and agree to some extent b/c after your “service” is done you are doubly alone and the contrast between others’ meaningful lives and your bare one is ever greater, but one thing it does is keep you occupied; we all know how vulnerable we are to demons when we are alone. Perhaps the way God comes in is in meditation, the harder we concentrate on one thing or vision the calmer we feel. I wish I had more constructive and helpful words but everyone’s depression is different, I can only urge you to not stop trying to escape yours.

    1. It is true, depression is different for everyone, because we are all so very different and unique.

      There was a period in my life when I dealt with depression; even though I was married with children, had an excellent job / career and making good money, and living the middle-class lifestyle. So why was I depressed, because of a family crisis that threatened happiness of the entire family; and there was nothing I could do during this period but pray and hope for help from God. The super-spiritual person, might say well that should be enough. Well it was enough in the beginning, but desperation drove me to seek after the Lord and get real with God.

      When I say get real, I mean get real! Before the family crisis, I was a nominal Christian….I attended Church on Sundays but was worldly during the rest of the time–prayer, worship and Bible reading was not something I did; and my faith was very weak. When the crisis happened, I was fearful, depressed, angry, and desperate for answers from God. I needed to how to get out of the pit I was in and help getting through the difficult time. I began to cry out to the Lord asking Him why this happened and to help me get through it–I mean literal tears–there was a time when I cried all throughout one night into the next morning. I didn’t know what would do, if He heard me or what He would do but I knew enough about the Bible to believe that if I sought Him with all my heart, I would find Him.

      At about 10 or 11 am that next morning, my ears popped open and I heard the audible voice of the Lord say to me “you don’t belong to this world, you’re My child….to seek first the kingdom of God and all His righteousness.” It stunned me when I heard His voice, and was shocked at what He said. Even though I was not the most faithful and obedient Christian, He acknowledged me as His child and revealed Himself to me in a real and tangible way. To be honest, I did not fully understand what He had said but it didn’t change the fact that He I belonged to Him and that gave me hope.

      From that encounter, Father God gave me hope and strength to get through family crisis and time of depression; He also demonstrated that Hes alive and real, and cares.

      I still dealt with bouts of anger and depression for a while, but I believed things would get better–and they did, little by little, day by day. It didn’t happen suddenly or as quick as I wanted. Today I am much happier–what lessons were learned from this experience: to seek after God with all that is within you, to read the Bible, worship, and trust what God says about you as truth, to hold onto hope that things will get better and don’t let go, to let go of anger, fear, and unforgiving, and to confront the past by dealing with pain and sorrow from the past. My husband, and other caring people were patient with me during my ups-and-downs; and, my husband and I began attending a good Bible-believing, Bible-teaching Church together . A good book which also helped me is called “Changes That Heal” by Henry Cloud.

  14. Day in and day out for the past 7 years I’ve done nothing but serve others. I’ve helped and acted as a consultant even when I wasn’t happy myself. I watch as others around me are healed and become of good cheer from my endeavors and joy has not come for me. I felt nothing when I served others and nothing when I successfully served them. I continue to be utterly empty even in the act of being a pillar for others.

    I cannot in good conscious call this article or entry or whatever it is anything but utter nonsense. The one who wrote this clearly does not understand what depression itself is. The extent of their understanding is limited to figureheads only. Allow me to shed personal light: Anything more severe than a minor depression is in need of help from others. Once it becomes a severe depression intervention from others becomes necessary.

    What business does a severely depressed person have serving others? One who knows joy not even from tasks and actions they once found joy from? Emptiness so profound that one struggles to find the love in their heart for others?

    Rubbish. God might be the answer but serving others might not always be.

  15. Elena please do not give up.!!!Fight the good fight with the word it is powerful an this is a spiritual battle so your not going 2 be able to do it in the flesh. I know because I used to be bound by depression, anxiety , Susicide. Mental illness runs in my family but by Gods grace an his word we overcome. So you have to keep fighting till you get that breakthru it will come. He loves you so much!!!

  16. I’ve never been so lost, i want to believe he’s going to help me get past my depression but it just seems to get worse. Friends, and even my own mother don’t want to be around me. i need something to keep me going because right now all i want to do is stop and let the depression take me. i want to believe so bad,i just don’t see him in these times of trouble.

    1. Author

      Elena – You are not going to see Him. You have to know that He is there. Most of the time, depression is a spirit that keeps you from seeing the hope and light that is all around you. Do a site search for the ‘You’ve Got to Have Hope,’ go to the Topics page and select ‘Depression.’ That will take you to all the articles on that and it is one of them.

      Of course God will help but you have to do something. Don’t let it take you over. Take the word of God in and fight the darkness. It wants you to give up an give in to it, then it has won. Don’t do it. Resist the devil. Do it for yourself, or do it for your mother and friends. We love you. Rex

    2. Elena – do you feel that your family does not want to be around you because of your depression? Have they been supportive in the past? It is so hard to discern what is reality and what is true only in your sphere of depression, isn’t it? I’ve said before and still believe it, do as John Wesley was advised, “preach it until you feel it”, act as if your cloud is lifting and honestly you will find that it will, I promise. It is not a cure, of course, but a means of getting off the floor of that deep dark pit, and we all know that first step is the hardest, the second step feels slightly less impossible, and so on, just keep going, but you must keep seeking help along the way. If you are not under a professional’s care, please get one; if you are under one who is not helping you, get a new one. And let us know how you are because we truly all care. Blessings to you.

    3. Please do not give up. That is what the enemy wants you to do.

  17. Some of u guys could go to blahtheraphy some people on that website have really helped me and we can also offer help to others on the site

  18. to Unknown – I know how frustrating it is when people say, get some rest or take a walk or snap out of it, when the depression hole is just growing deeper, and the longer you’re in there, the higher and harder the climb up. Every morning I ask God to let me know how I can help someone that day, and you’d be surprised how many times I’m actually able to do so, just by little things. Yet by evening I’m sliding back into that pit. If anyone has help for that, let me know. Until then, Unknown, let’s you and I and Anna and Joseph try to give it up to God. Merry Christmas. Amen.

    1. Hello Anna. Have u ever read about the saints who suffered from mental illness? Or prayed to the patron saints for this? I find in my low times this calms me. I know I have to let go and let God, but that’s easier said than done…I know! Reading stories of those who have been very low and have come out of this seems to help too. Pray always, something as simple as Jesus, heal my mind. I wil be praying for u!

    2. Awww thanks thats really inspiring. Only saw this now but agreed let us all offer everything to God

  19. Dearest Anna – I am so sorry, I wish there were magic words that would help you. I’m sure you’ve heard everything before. I just urge you to keep trying although I know how difficult it can be to get out of the pit and of course the pit does not have room for anyone else, so how can someone reach you to help, right? Do you have loved ones who care for you through whom you can seek new medical doctors and treatments? Can they or you commit yourself to a new facility? There’s a reason why we are always urged to ‘keep trying’ – our solution might be at the very next spot we try. I do not know how you can control your thoughts, I suffer ‘night demons’ but am sure they are nothing compared to yours. You must feel so very alone, it breaks my heart. Does your pastor visit you? if not, get him there!
    When my daughter was overwhelmed by life and felt no purpose left for her, luckily I was able to get her to the hospital, and she later told me that when she awoke and saw the look on my face it made her resolve to never to try that again. You need to see that look on someone’s face. It is on the face of Jesus, you know that. I can understand how your faith is suffering, I am so impressed that you have held it so dearly, just please keep it, let the face of God overshadow your demons and conquer them. But meanwhile, get help, please! With love and blessings, Kay

    1. Years ago I was in a deep depression. As the Lord revealed “hidden and profound things” I was set free.
      There were some things in life I had gone through but not really allowed myself to “feel” so those feelings
      were buried, but alive.

  20. I have struggled with Bipolar and depression all my life. I used to be able to control my out burts and now I can’t. I have been in mental hospitals, overdosed, and have tried sucide a number amount of times. I try to bring myself to ask God for help but I feel like my cries to him are just words being ignored. Don’t get me wrong I love God and I am thankful for the things he has done in my life. But lately my Bipolar and depression are getting the best of me again and the medications aren’t working anymore. It’s like when one thing goes wrong be it with my health or just something in life it’s a train wreck that just keeps blocking my way. I can’t help but to sometimes question my own faith. Even though Jeremiah 29:11 says “For I know the plans I have for you declares the LORD plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” I can’t bring myself to believe it anymore. My depression is killing my hope and faith. I don’t pray anymore because I feel there is no point. I don’t go to church anymore because why sit there and listen when I have NOTHING to give. I am slowly losing it my nervous breakdown is right on the edge I currently feel numb to everything, my thoughts are all I have left right now and they are horrible thoughts! I am lost.

    1. Dear Anna,
      I have suffered with depression, and I know that it is not nice. I was feeling spiritually very low, and I found the following video-link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ejXniemAyOc by Norm Rasmussen, who talks about “When you feel like God has let you down”, and I found this link VERY helpful. Please watch and persevere with the video all the way through to the end. I hope that it helps you Anna. I will be praying for you.
      Best wishes,
      David

    2. Anna I may not know you or what you have been through but even if its hard keep going, God will be there. Im only 13 years old and have always had suicidal thoughts ever since i was 9 because of something that happened in the past but I always feel Gods comforting presence especially when I feel so hopeless and when no one understands what I feel. I try talking about it with others but they just think we are being overly dramatic and selfish because they believe we only think about ourselves. Before these suicidal thoughts I was never really emotionally involved in the Church and I had faith but it wasnt as strong as it is now. I just tell myself to believe that the Lord is preparing me for bigger challenges and my wounds have healed, maybe not completely because from time to time I want to give up but I believe that heaven exists and that I will find my eternal happiness there, with my loved ones who have passed away and by helping others. A guy older than me from the school beside ours tried committing suicide dozens of times too but it was the 1st time I saw with my own eyes someone who was about to jump from the school building becuase the battle was too hard. I cried right away even if I didnt know him because I know how hard it is and I just kept praying that the lord may save him and He did. So I pray that you may get better too:)

  21. Dear Joey & Rex – I did not mean to say that God and all He offers is not available to everyone, I was saying that as for me if, when I am in doubt or despair and feel alone in the cold, I imagine that God is with me, and I can act that way – until it feels true! I do feel that’s a better way than to keep walking into the darkness and give in to hopelessness, don’t you? It is unfortunate that the scenario can keep repeating but hopefully each time the darkness of alone is slightly less, the cold just a bit less biting, and the way back slightly shorter.
    We are each on our own journey and whatever steps we follow on the way are acceptable to God. As for the evil we encounter along the way, that is Satan who is alive and unfortunately well, and as part of our journey we must constantly strive to defeat him. Amen?

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