The Key To Defeating Depression

When I started this topic, I said that depression is about three main issues. I talked about the first step to defeating depression in the prior article of this series. To reiterate, the first issue is perspective, and this issue dramatically affects outcomes. The second issue is faith and is the main focus of God in our lives. Faith wants you to move beyond your circumstances and asks “What do you believe?” The third issue is control and begs the question, “Whose are you?”

When we do not view our lives, our personal selves and our circumstances through the aerial spectacles of God, we step away from the right perspective in favor of an impeded view or a veil. Because of this veil, we do not have access to all variables nor know of all the players on the board getting affected in the circumference of our little visually hindered world, so we lose faith.

This loss of faith occurs because we are leaning on our own understanding, and not God’s, because we want to control the events and outcomes of our lives, but are not walking in the real power of the royalty God bestowed on us, because our viewpoint is so limited. It’s like standing on top of an ant hill shouting, “I’m the king of the world!” Ok…you may tower over the world of the ants, but that’s about it. But if you were on a mountain top, saying, “I’m the king over all I survey,” there’s a big difference, because the perspective is dramatically different. From that height you have access to much more within the scope of what you can visually capture, and your hope is elevated as a result.

It’s like we are Maxwell smart with spy glasses that enable headquarters to see everything we see, and at the same time, transmit everything they see from above our perspective via satellite, to us. God gives us that view from the proverbial satellite perspective, and all we have to do is recognize that He is an ever present help to get us through any situation. All we have to do is put our trust and faith in Him.

Part of our issues with perspective are the result of a lack of boundaries, and can cause us to become victims struggling for control. Thus, having a lack of control will cause uncertainty, and the doubt cycle begins anew while we attempt to recover from offenses.

Pro 17:9 He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth [very] friends.

People are afraid to forgive, because again, it’s a matter of intrinsic value. When our rights or feelings get violated, most people are hurt because they perceive that someone does not value them or their feelings due to some level of insensitivity that person has displayed. They struggle with their self image and self worth, because they place more faith in other people to validate their worth, than in God their Creator. It would stand to reason, that if God saw fit to bring us into this world, no matter the circumstances of our birth; He saw value in us. As our Creator, He placed value in us. We have to seek Him for our validation, not the world, material things or other people.

Some people can see a situation happening; a change being initiated, but because they are comfortable with the status quo, they resist it, and refuse to be proactive in adjusting things in their environment that is within their control or the scope of their circumference. They take the idea and perspective that they are losing something, and fail to see that God is moving the props in the game to enable them to get to the next levels that have more rewards.

Sometimes God has to allow us to feel dis-ease, because He’s been trying to get our attention, and discomfort is the only thing that seems to work with our stubborn natures. We are just characters in this virtual reality we call life. Characters don’t propel themselves through the game; they are directed by a player, and their perspective becomes his perspective. The question is: which player propels you in the game?

Remember, if you are truly seeking God, you need the 3 P’s. You must be persuaded of both His continual presence in your life, and of His power to take care of all your needs. This will enable you to relinquish control and stop doubting. In order to gain this confidence you need to search the scriptures for the promises of God.

Rom 8:38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
Rom 8:39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

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Joshua was facing a daunting task. He had to step into Moses’ shoes and lead a nation of whiny, ungrateful people, through a desert with enemies all around them. But God made a promise to Joshua 3 times that got him through. Not only did he believe it, but he obeyed the conditional instructions that were part of the promise. When we obey the instructions with our free will and a grateful heart, the promises are activated and we gain access to God and his provision.

It’s like a contractual agreement. When you adhere to the requirements or service agreed upon in the contract, you reap the benefits and access the contract established. If you renege on your end of the agreement, you risk losing the provision or compensation agreed upon. A contract is established as an act of faith between two parties, in which they detail the terms of the exchange. You demonstrate your faith by fulfilling your end of the agreement in obedience or compliance to whatever service is requested and in exchange, you receive some form of compensation or provision.

Jos 1:5 There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, [so] I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.
Jos 1:6 Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them.
Jos 1:7 Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it [to] the right hand or [to] the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest.
Jos 1:8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.
Jos 1:9 Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God [is] with thee whithersoever thou goest.

In order for the provisions of this contract to kick into effect, Joshua had to be strong and courageous for 3 separate reasons: to handle the people; to follow the law; and to encourage himself in the presence of the Lord. He was required to walk with God, and not to turn away to the right or left, and he was required to stay prayed up or filled up with the word of God, because these things would “enable” him to prosper and have good success.

Once you have found those promises and start to walk in them by obeying the requirements of them, rejoice and maintain a thankful heart in all circumstances. You’ll find that when you thank Him and praise Him “in spite of,” you are ushering in change. The aerial perspective gets ushered into the ground view, and the picture you are seeing (your perspective) at that level will change dramatically in your favor because you have walked by faith into the favor of God.

When you are trying to have or maintain an attitude of gratitude, and you just aren’t feelin’ it, fake it until you make it. James Brown started an anthem in one small phrase that caused a revolution and resulted in an insecure people to rise up and looking beyond their circumstances.

He said, “Say it loud, I’m black and I’m proud.” Suddenly, a people who prior to this, had no sense of self worth due to their condition and circumstances throughout 400 years of their history, suddenly began to convince themselves that they had value by repeating that phrase. Now that phrase is an anthem that is forever a part of black culture.

Psa 35:9 And my soul shall be joyful in the LORD: it shall rejoice in his salvation.

Psa 118:24 This [is] the day [which] the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.

Hab 3:18 Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation.

The key to defeating depression is a grateful heart and an attitude of praise and thankfulness to God, not for what you don’t have, but for what you do have. Seek Him for the aerial view and relinquish your desire for control, and you will see your life from a much better perspective.

Phl 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord alway: [and] again I say, Rejoice.
Phl 4:5 Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord [is] at hand.
Phl 4:6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
Phl 4:7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.