12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. –Ephesians 6:12
The spirit of Depression is one that has its claws in so many people. As the world seemingly grows darker around us, with evil acts abounding, depression digs its claws into more and more people. This year especially has been beyond difficult for individuals. The number of suicides due to depression is a statistic that is often unstressed. We ignore what we don’t want to deal with. Depression clings and people fight it on a daily, hourly basis. Yet, we are unaware because their outward expression is of facade that they give to the world.
Depression is often one of the best-kept secrets. People don’t want to admit they are depressed. They don’t want to be asked, “what do you have to be depressed about?” The life we see is not necessarily the life that they lead. Secrets can kill. Yet, we have learned as a society that it is better to keep our secrets hidden than be mocked or bullied about them. Depression is a secret that definitely falls under this category.
It is important to be able to talk to someone when we are feeling depressed. Whether that feeling is real or imagined doesn’t matter. It is what a person IS feeling at the time and therefore it is REAL. Depression can lead to disassociation, removal of oneself from others and suicide. Suicide is another hidden topic, although it is gaining more attention as the suicide levels rise. Yet, these are still taboo subjects, hidden for too long. We don’t want to accept the fact that someone whom we admire and look up to is depressed. We don’t want to think about it. If they can feel that way, then we can feel that way too.
What we need to realize, especially as Christians, is that depression is real. Not only is it real we can fight it. We can fight it within ourselves and for others. We just need to be willing to humble ourselves before the Lord and PRAY.
Prayer changes things. We can’t physically fight in the spiritual realm. That is why we have to call upon the Lord and let Him lead His angels to do the fighting for us. We not only find strength but we give strength to others when we pray. When we seek God and ask Him to protect and keep us. When we ask for Him to watch over and guide us. When we ask Him to send His angels before us to fight the battles.
A lot of people think of God as a genie in a bottle and prayer as our hands rubbing it to make it pop out. That isn’t the way it works. God always answers our prayer. It may be “yes”. It may be “no”. It may be “wait”. (Waiting on the Lord is the seemingly most difficult.) We don’t need to understand why. The Bible tells us that we won’t see fully. It isn’t our time to see and understand.
For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known. -1 Corinthians 13:12
We often see the backside of the masterpiece and it makes no sense. When you turn it over, it fully becomes clear. We don’t get to know all the answers; we do get to build up our faith. We get to move in faith, help others to find strength, for faith without works is dead.
We need to remember that God didn’t call us to fail. He didn’t lead us into a life to be filled with self-pity and depression. Yet, that doesn’t mean that we won’t stumble and fall our way into such a place. It doesn’t mean we won’t find ourselves surrounded by darkness, fear and depression. Yes, even if we find ourselves in these places, all we need to do is call out to Him. Unfortunately, when we are in those dark places, we don’t always remember that it is Him who gives us strength. That it is our Lord who turns our sorrow into joy, our mourning into dancing. –Psa 30:11
