Overcoming Depression

God Has Given Us What We Need to Defeat It!

This article on overcoming depression is an introduction to "Matters of the Heart," our free eCourse for spiritual growth and emotional transformation.

You Really Can Climb Out of the Pit

Overcoming depression is completely possible through what the Father has given us as Christians. Now I know that is promising a lot and possibly you have heard the promises before and have tried what you know to do as a Christian—yet have not overcome depression in your own life. And that sense of failure (both of the promises and of your best efforts) has added further pain to the heaviness of your depression. Please do not give up! Read on!

I am a Christian who has known the bleakness of spirit, the incredible heaviness of heart, of what seemed like mountains of oppression that went on for years. But, thankfully, I didn’t give up and God met me with His proven help along the way (see the entirety of our Workbook and CD/DVD series in the free Downloads section or in the Store). I put all that He was showing me to work and can truly say that there is a way through the fog and pits of depression to the other side where the life that is promised becomes a new Promised Land. The joy of new life is more than worth the pain of our passage through the wilderness to overcoming depression!

Ok, now let’s open up that first statement. Just consider what the Father has given us: He has given us Truth to stake our lives on; He has given us faith to trust His own perfect, unending Love to be our covering; He has given us unlimited forgiveness to draw upon; He has given us the Magnificent Promise of restoration (Romans 8:28) to uplift our hearts; He has given us the indwelling power of His Spirit to help us do the forgiving and believing that our lives require; He has given us unbreakable hope to hold on to as an anchor for our soul; He has already given us a new childlike and Christ-like nature just waiting to come forth; He has given us Jesus to be our present Savior and forever Love. Now this is not all that the Father has given us, but it is more than enough to get us started digging out of depression.

Now reread what the Father has given us and see how each one of the gifts requires us to do something to really get the goodness out of it He intends. For example, a huge chunk of the weight of depression is composed of buried anger and un-forgiveness. God will help us, but we alone have to do the forgiving from the heart (Matthew 18:35) if we want to throw off that unwanted weight as we struggle to overcome depression (see Freedom through Forgiving).

Another pit fall is letting go of hope. Perhaps it seems that in your situation there is no hope. But this is not true. God’s power, presence and plans are all around you even though they may lie beyond your present ability to see, to sense, and to understand. Begin confessing that it is you who have let go of the hope He once set before you (Hebrews 6:18), receive His forgiveness and ask for His help in restoring it to you (see The Power of Believing and Hope for Hopeless Situations).

Overcoming depression takes place as we yield to what God is saying to us and showing us to do. This has just been an introduction to a few of the ways of the Lord, but I hope it is enough for you to gain hope that...

God has given us what we need for overcoming depression in our lives!  

Interested in Going Deeper?

Consider taking our free eCourse for Healing. We have designed a complete series for personal transformation, "Matters of the Heart," to help Christians gain emotional freedom and inner healing. In all there are 24 Main Healing Lessons and 24 Head to Heart Guides to help you bring your heart to God and receive His Great Heart for you in return!