Remember, O God, that my life is but a breath;
my eyes will never see happiness again. Job 7:6

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7

 Introduction

Depression is real as light as day. It is a serious issue that is affecting many of us throughout the world. Depression does not discriminate. Rich and poor folks get depressed. Christians and non-Christians get depressed

I was depressed as young person and as an adult but I am thankful to God that I did not lose my mind. I kept it all to myself. I did not confide in anyone because I didn’t trust anyone. I felt if I had told anyone I was depressed, a stigma would be associated with me so I would just keep smiling even though I was depressed.

When I was young man, what kept me sane was the love for my mother. During my depressed moments, I would think about my mother and how she would be impacted if I did anything drastic. When I became married, I thought about my wife and my children.

Depression may start off as worrying then you can become depressed and then you may end up having suicidal thoughts.

Depression is real. I know it is embarrassing to feel depressed but it can happen to anyone.

I know some of you may be on prescribed medication for your condition. Rest assured, you can overcome it. Nothing is impossible without God. You just have to believe.

What Causes Depression?

Depression takes place as a result of a myriad of issues. Research indicates that one of the primary causes of depression is chemical imbalance. I am not sure what causes chemical imbalance but I know the God we serve can balance you chemically. Other reasons for depression are rejection, fearful, lack of money, inferiority complex, loss of a loved one, grief and loneliness.

You may also become depressed because you feel that you have not accomplished anything. For instance, you may have set goals or plans but you did not achieve them but you see others achieving their goals, this can make you feel depressed. You also may have lost a job either through redundancy or termination and you have a difficult time finding another job. This can cause depression.

The doctor may inform you that you have a chronic illness or any other disease and as a result you may become very depressed. Trust me, I know the feeling.

It is also possible that you inherited this depression from your parents, grandparents and great grandparents which is really a generational curse.

How can we overcome Depression?

Find someone that you feel comfortable to talk to about your depressed feelings. Children let your parents know how you feel.  Do not be embarrassed about it because perhaps they went through it themselves but never told you. Even if your parents were never depressed, still tell them as they may know where you can seek help and furthermore, they will be your support system.

You can also find a counsellor especially a Christian one. I know there are good counsellors who are not Christians but they may tell you some things that are contrary to the Word of God.

Adults talk to someone you can trust and who can give you guidance. Husbands confide in your wives and wives confide in your husbands about how you feel. If you are not married, then confide in a trusted friend or a counsellor as mentioned above.

Recently a pastor committed suicide. Perhaps it was a shock to many as no one expects a pastor to commit suicide. Depression does not discriminate but based on my experience, you can overcome it.

Some of us may just need deliverance and I know that God can deliver you from anything.

Conclusion

Even though God knows what you are going through, do not accept the depressed state that you are in so talk to God. The Bible told us not to be anxious about anything but in every situation make your requests known to him and the peace of God will guard your heart and mind. After all, God has not given you a spirt of fear, but a spirt of love, power and a sound mind. Therefore, this depressed spirit is not from God, so you can overcome it. Remember if you commit suicide, the people that you left behind will be the ones to suffer. Do you want that?