Defeating the Lie of Depression

“I find myself frequently depressed – perhaps more so than any other person here. And I find no better cure for that depression than to trust in the Lord with all my heart, and seek to realise afresh the power of the peace-speaking blood of Jesus and His infinite love in dying upon the cross to put away all my transgressions.” —C.H. Spurgeon.

“I do not fit in; I am always tailing the class performance list; I have never made any impact in anyone’s life- not even my dog; I do not think such things are for me; I am a failure. Nothing I do comes to life; I guess that’s just how life is for me; who cares anyway? Everybody seems to be doing fine without my input.” These and many more statements fill the hearts of many young and older people alike. A drowning feeling of worthlessness accompanied by a gripping, false reality mentality that indeed, these thoughts are as true as they come. In many drug holes and gangs; many brothels and bars; many hospital wards and psychiatric clinics; many locked bedrooms and dark basements; men and women, boys and girls are caught up in this web; this trap that has invisible chains that have made lives visibly bound. But what is the root of such kind of depression and insignificance? Were all these born like that or did it start from somewhere? 

There is power in standing upon and believing the truth of scriptures (John 8:31-32, 36). Why or how? Because in them, God has revealed to us his mind concerning everything we need to know, yea, even ourselves. Depressed people need deep rest. Jesus said, “Come unto me all ye who are weary and heavy ladened and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28. Therefore what should we do to defeat this lie of insignificance in our daily lives?

KNOW WHO YOU ARE

The Bible begins with the amazing story of how God created the heavens and the earth in six days (Genesis 1:1-31). In Genesis 1:25, we see the last thing God created by the word of His mouth and concluded that indeed, it was good. Afterwards, in verse 26, God takes the initiative to create man in His image and likeness personally. Man would be the only creature that would crown all of creation, making God say, for the first time, that the creation was very good (Genesis 1:31). It is important to note that God created human beings as unique beings. We are not like mosquitoes and ants and birds and fish. We have the very nature of God in us; fashioned after our creator; crowning all creation. 

God gave Adam and Eve specific tasks, giving them a purpose and significance in life. They were to tend and care for the garden (Genesis 2:15). He even gave the privilege of naming all the creatures that God had created (Genesis 2:19-20). Admittedly, this first couple was busy if you ask me. To name all animals God had made was no walk in the park. Can you fathom how they went ahead to name all the sea creatures and the insects? God caused all of them to appear before the man to get a name! Adam was busy and engaged in the work God had prepared for Him. He didn’t need to compare himself with the woman or anything else. Each of them knew they’re worthy before their Father. 

In Genesis 3, we see the serpent coming into the scene and messing everything by the power of his deception. Satan usurped the God-given beauty man had by using the lie that he uses against all humanity today. He got the couple to doubt what God had said. “Did God really say…?” That is what he threw at them and throws at us today (Genesis 3:1). Afterwards, he would make humanity walk in the guilt of their incapability of living at 100% of who they were made to be. Sin began in the garden because of deception and death consequently became a part of us- both physical and spiritual death. But Jesus came, to make right the wrong that done in the garden (Romans 5:12-17). We are no longer hopeless because Christ has redeemed all the significance we lost in the garden. 

Regaining our Knowledge of God

At the fall, man lost his knowledge of God as a good Father, no wonder he ran away and hid when he sinned (Genesis 3:10). The first thing we need to do to know ourselves accurately is to regain a right understanding of God as our Father and not just a menacing figure ready to smash and crush at will (Isaiah 64:8, Psalm 68:5, Ephesians 1:3, Psalm 103:13, 2 Corinthians 1:3- 4). All these scriptures show the character of God the Father. He blesses, comforts, and forgives us. A wrong understanding of God will affect our understanding of ourselves. I can only view myself as correctly as I view my creator. Psalm 139:14 reminds us that we are both fearfully and wonderfully made and that God’s works are perfect. He makes no mistakes, this our God. You are not a mistake, either. The moment we allow culture and society and media and the world to interpret us in their ways, we will feel insignificant and out of place, even when there is no merit for such thoughts- and there is never merit for such! The moment we see ourselves through the eyes of a kind, perfect, caring and trustworthy God, our worldview changes, and so does our perception of who we are and why on earth we exist. 

Depression is a sign of lack of trust in the supreme being because somehow we think we’re able to keep things under control. Well, we cannot, and that is why we need not even look deep within ourselves. Look at these statements below. Ask yourself which one needs to strike like a thunderbolt in your heart and resonate with your spirit. Instead of lying down depressed and feeling like scum, why not seek your Father- the One who fashioned and made you in his likeness. When you find Him, you will have officially found yourself. He is the One that determines who you are. Not what you did/ do but what He has done already! It is time to change my friend. You maker desires to show you who you are. 

LIES WE BELIEVE ABOUT OUR FATHER GOD:

Distant and disinterested. Insensitive and uncaring. Stern and demanding. Passive and cold. Absent or too busy for me. Never satisfied with what I do, impatient or angry. Mean, cruel or abusive. He is trying to take all the fun out of life, controlling or manipulative, condemning or unforgiving—nitpicking, exacting or perfectionistic.

TRUTHS WE SHOULD EMBRACE ABOUT OUR FATHER GOD:

  • Intimate and involved (see Psalm 139:18). Kind and compassionate (see Psalm 103:8-14).

  • He is Accepting and filled with joy and love (see Romans 15:7; Zephaniah 3:17). 

  • Warm and affectionate (see Isaiah 40:11; Hosea 11:3-4). Always with me and eager to be with me (see Hebrews 13:5; Jeremiah 31:20; Ezekiel 34:11-16). 

  • Patient and slow to anger (see Exodus 34:6; 2 Peter 3:9). Loving, gentle and protective of me (see Jeremiah 31:3; Isaiah 42:3; Psalm 18:2). 

  • Trustworthy and wants to give me a full life; His will is good, perfect and acceptable for me (see Lamentations 3:22, 23; John 10:10; Romans 12:1, 2).

  • Full of grace and mercy and He gives me the freedom to fail (see Hebrews 4:15, 16; Luke 15:11-16). 

  • Tenderhearted and forgiving; His heart and arms are always open to me (see Psalm 130:1-4; Luke 15:17-24).

  • Committed to my growth and proud of me as His growing child (see Romans 8:28, 29; Hebrews 12:5-11; 2 Corinthians 7:4). 

KNOW WHOSE YOU ARE

I belong to the One who defines me! That is why those who let their earthly fathers falsely define them; jobs and careers; wives and girlfriends; husbands or boyfriends; sports or fame; have consistently found themselves in a state of depression and feelings of worthlessness. To whom do you belong? That is a narrative that needs to change if you are going to have victory over depressive and drowning thoughts. Psalm 139:13-15 tells us that he knit closely in our mother’s womb. He started me. He is my manufacturer (Jeremiah 1:5). There is no way a Toyota company can start claiming ownership of the Volkswagen or Mitsubishi. In the same way, there is no way we should allow people or things that were never involved in the Genesis 1:26-27, Psalm 139:14, or Jeremiah 1:5 happenings to claim ownership over us and control us. It is time to be as free as a bird. 

You belong to God. That is regardless of what you have done and where you come from here in this globe. Tough things may happen to us in this journey, but it doesn’t mean that God has neglected and forsaken. Paul says in regards to this reality of whose we belong to that the sufferings and trials we go through are preparation of something better than what we see now. God has prepared that more significant thing for us (2 Corinthians 5:1-10). Therefore, if I belong to God, no one else has the power to define me; not even myself. My definition is Heaven made, and as I live on earth, I am Heaven bound. Grab hold of God’s word and dig deeper. Click on the button below, and we’ll give you direction as to how to walk with Jesus. Who you are is defined by whose you are and not what you do or what others think. Who do you belong to?

Conclusion

Depression is a reality we must fight by faith and in faith. No one should make you feel insignificant because they have a few worldly and perishable things you may not have for now. And should you never have these things, you have the owner of all things calling you’ son’! That’s more than any price a man can pay on earth. Arise and trust it the faithfulness of God and see your heart experience victory. 

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