Post by Betty on Apr 10, 2005 5:30:02 GMT -5
The Solution To Depression
We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, on whom
our faith depends from start to finish (Hebrews
12:2, NLT).
Dear friends:
Jim grew up in Kenya, the only son of a
missionary family. He came to America for the first time
when he entered college at 18 years of age.
Although he was fascinated by life in the United
States, he was terribly homesick, and longed to
return to East Africa's simpler way of life.
A few months before graduation, however, Jim met
Carol, a lovely Christian girl who wanted to
serve the Lord. The two fell in love and married.
Before long they were expecting their first child,
and their move to Kenya was postponed. Then
little by little, Jim realized that Carol did not
really share his dream to return to Africa and carry
on his parents' ministry.
She loved him, and dearly loved the Lord Jesus,
but living in Africa frightened her.
As years went by, Jim's hopes of returning to
Kenya faded. He gradually became distant and
depressed. He began to gain weight, and the migraine
headaches that had always troubled him grew
increasingly severe. For a brief period of time, he
became dependent upon a prescription drug.
Fortunately, Jim received good counsel from his
pastor, and through prayer and love, was
eventually restored to joy and peace in our Lord.
Although Jim's circumstances were unique, his
symptoms were not. Christians are not immune to
depression. It is not something to feel guilty
about. But unless the depression is caused by some
chemical imbalance, there is something we can do
about it.
Jim's problem came from unfilled personal
desires. Depression can be triggered by disappointments
in life, or tragic events, such as the loss of a
loved one. All these things are understandable.
But if anyone ever had a reason to be depressed,
it was our Lord Jesus Christ. "He was despised
and rejected -- a man of sorrows, acquainted with
bitterest grief" (Isaiah 53:3, NLT). He knew
that as only a young man at age 33, He was going to
be tortured and publicly executed by the most
painful method of execution ever devised by man --
the dreaded crucifixion.
If depression ever tries to come upon you, think
about our Lord, what He did, and the victory He
has given us to overcome the world. Negative
attitudes leading to depression can severely handicap
us in our witness to others, and God has given us
the way to deal with it.
"Every child of God defeats this evil world by
trusting Christ to give the victory. And the ones
who win this battle against the world are the ones
who believe that Jesus is the Son of God." (1
John 5:4-5, NLT).
Yours for helping to fulfill the Great Commission
each year until our Lord returns,
Bill Bright
We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, on whom
our faith depends from start to finish (Hebrews
12:2, NLT).
Dear friends:
Jim grew up in Kenya, the only son of a
missionary family. He came to America for the first time
when he entered college at 18 years of age.
Although he was fascinated by life in the United
States, he was terribly homesick, and longed to
return to East Africa's simpler way of life.
A few months before graduation, however, Jim met
Carol, a lovely Christian girl who wanted to
serve the Lord. The two fell in love and married.
Before long they were expecting their first child,
and their move to Kenya was postponed. Then
little by little, Jim realized that Carol did not
really share his dream to return to Africa and carry
on his parents' ministry.
She loved him, and dearly loved the Lord Jesus,
but living in Africa frightened her.
As years went by, Jim's hopes of returning to
Kenya faded. He gradually became distant and
depressed. He began to gain weight, and the migraine
headaches that had always troubled him grew
increasingly severe. For a brief period of time, he
became dependent upon a prescription drug.
Fortunately, Jim received good counsel from his
pastor, and through prayer and love, was
eventually restored to joy and peace in our Lord.
Although Jim's circumstances were unique, his
symptoms were not. Christians are not immune to
depression. It is not something to feel guilty
about. But unless the depression is caused by some
chemical imbalance, there is something we can do
about it.
Jim's problem came from unfilled personal
desires. Depression can be triggered by disappointments
in life, or tragic events, such as the loss of a
loved one. All these things are understandable.
But if anyone ever had a reason to be depressed,
it was our Lord Jesus Christ. "He was despised
and rejected -- a man of sorrows, acquainted with
bitterest grief" (Isaiah 53:3, NLT). He knew
that as only a young man at age 33, He was going to
be tortured and publicly executed by the most
painful method of execution ever devised by man --
the dreaded crucifixion.
If depression ever tries to come upon you, think
about our Lord, what He did, and the victory He
has given us to overcome the world. Negative
attitudes leading to depression can severely handicap
us in our witness to others, and God has given us
the way to deal with it.
"Every child of God defeats this evil world by
trusting Christ to give the victory. And the ones
who win this battle against the world are the ones
who believe that Jesus is the Son of God." (1
John 5:4-5, NLT).
Yours for helping to fulfill the Great Commission
each year until our Lord returns,
Bill Bright
