“Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me” (2 Corinthians 12:8-9).
Depression isn’t feeling bummed; depression isn’t situational; depression is an oppressive and oftentimes debilitating condition. The notion that the brain is the one organ God made impervious to illness is absurd, but as with everything else physical, mental illness also has a spiritual component. “Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me” (2 Corinthians 12:8-9). I want to take a moment to boast about one of my great lifelong struggles.
I’ve struggled with depression, most of my life, and find it to be a selfish and jealous spirit leaving little room for anyone, or anything, else. The fruits of depression are hopelessness and despair; shame and embarrassment; I know these demons personally. But the Holy Spirit, is also hard at work within me, most often quietly, and eventually broke depression’s yoke. Hopelessness and despair lost their sting, and shame and embarrassment were replaced by renewal and gratitude; I’ve come to know the Holy Spirit personally. Depression is always present, and ready to spring into action, but the Lord is with me, as well. I am God’s victory in Jesus Christ (Romans 8:37).
In all aspects of the human experience, not just temptation, but also in illness, God is not unsympathetic to our plight; He has literally walked in our shoes. “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin“ (Hebrews 4:15). When I don’t know how to move forward, I will rejoice! When I want to run away, I will rejoice! When I feel anxiety’s grip tightening all around me, I will rejoice! God is faithful; I will rejoice! Times of weakness and despair are some of the best occasions to speak the truth; those times when the truth seems to be furthest away.
Don’t be ashamed; that’s the devil. Pray without ceasing and seek help. We are spiritual, yet we are physical; one need not come at the expense of the other. God has graciously given us many resources.
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Sharing these thoughts with us just makes me admire you more and more. These words will be used to help others, for sure. Hang on because the Lord will not let loose of you.
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Thank you. God has really worked through you to move me. I plan to devote a good bit of time talking about my weaknesses and struggles and how the Lord is working all things together. That’s a message I needed to hear, and I hope will speak to others. Thank you, and God bless you.
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This was a blessing to read this morning. I have had anxiety and panic since a child and depression was always present. The verses you quoted here were HUGE saving graces for me. It made me see how God fights for me and the worse things would seem the stronger He gets, harder He fights, and the stronger I’d get and be. This will help a lot of people. God bless you 🙂
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That means the world to me! The enemy works so hard at convincing us that God has abandoned us in our struggles, so I hope by sharing my own struggles, and God’s provision, that others will be encouraged. My next post will kind of follow along similar lines as this one. Thank you again for encouraging me, and God bless you!
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It was my pleasure 🙂
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I wish you well with your struggles. I know how much depression can twist and warp a life. I’m glad that you have your faith to help you.
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Thank you!
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Well done.
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Thank you!
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You’re welcome
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This is beautifully written and gives me hope. I have a constant struggle with this negative spirit, which makes me feel despondent because I have so much to be thankful for and am so blessed by our good Lord. Thank you. Your blog is beautiful
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Thank you, and God bless! I am absolutely convinced of the spiritual, perhaps, maybe even over the physical at times. I still have bad days from time to time, and on those days, especially, I cling to the truth all the more. If you follow my blog, you’ll see struggle and God’s provision will be common themes.
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Thank you for sharing your experience. Depression is a very wide issue. It can be physiological – chemical imbalance, emotional, situational, or even nutritional. I pray that you are able to identify the source and find peace. Thank you for stopping by my blog. Please keep in touch! God bless you!
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Thank you! I’m grateful that I made it through that difficult time, and I hope grew at least a little as a result. God bless you too!
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Good to hear that. If it’s emotional or situational, your strong mental and spiritual power would help. Other kind of depression may require med. Take care!
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Indeed! We are also physical as well as spiritual, and the physical needs to be treated as well. Excellent point.
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hat is very correct!
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I have suffered most of my life. Most people don’t understand that there is a difference between feeling depressed and having depression. They both have the same symptoms. But being depressed is psychological/emotional illness. 12 Step programs, talk therapy and the healing power through Jesus helps and then of course are the happy pill solution but that disallows us to think our way out of it. The pills cloud our connection with God. On the other hand, actual depression is not psychological/ emotional. It is physiological. Chemical imbalances in the brain do not allow the enzymes to work properly and this physical problem leaves the part of the brain that controls emotions unable to balance depression function. The meds for this are like “vitamins for the brain” to restore function. We don’t get to talk our way out of it with therapy. Some people have both.
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Thank you for sharing. Mental illness/depression is complicated, and there are so many misconceptions. God bless!
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It is important that we know we have “D”. Often I can get through an episode lasting a few days by telling myself my emotions are distorted and in a few days it will pass. Knowing that I can keep a degree of well being. It has to be managed just like blood pressure and diabetes.
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Indeed. As I wrote, depression, as with anything else, is both physical and spiritual, and treatment of one need not be at the expense of the other. Thank you for reiterating the point. Have a blessed day!
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Thank you for sharing; I really needed to hear this today. 🙂 I look forward to reading more posts from you! Have a great Sunday! ♥
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You are quite welcome! You have a great day as well!
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I’m glad I found this blog and post when I needed it. Thank you for sharing. God bless
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You’re welcome. God bless you too!
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Jason, I too have dealt with depression, but mine didn’t start until about ten years ago after an accumulation of stresses finally overcame my own strength which was part of the problem. I tried for over a year to deal with my symptoms(not really understanding what was taking place within me). It wasn’t until I had a major panic attack in a meeting that I had to take action beyond my own power. I also read a book about a sports broadcaster who suffered from depression and how he struggled with shame. That dynamic resonated very deeply within me, as I considered depression a weakness (my mom was depressed for years as I was growing up). I pleaded with the Lord to free me of this debilitating thorn, as did Paul, but I didn’t seem to hear any answers. Eventually, I was lead to a psychiatrist who helped me crawl out of my pit. I still struggle with anxiety and a low level of depression, but I am functioning fairly well. I join you in celebrating freedom!
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Depression and mental illness impacts many in my family, including me, to varying degrees. The enemy prowls, and does he ever lie to us. I celebrate our freedom in Christ even when all five senses tell a different story. God reminds me that we are not who we are in the flesh!
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Brilliant. Right to the point and true. God bless you. Rejoice in the Lord, indeed! That cures nearly everything!
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Thank you. I followed your blog. Looking forward to reading your posts!
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Thanks for checking out my blog; much appreciated.
Have you ever read ‘Father Melancholy’s Daughter’ by Gail Godwin? It is a fictional tale about a young woman whose pastor father suffered from depression. You might enjoy it it. I did.
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Thank you. I’ll have to check it out!
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Hi Jason,
To me, depression often has a pattern, like a cycle that starts with specific triggers and somehow dissipates. Then starts again. From your experience, how do you break free from such a cycle? Do you just avoid the triggers? Please help.
Thanks!
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My depression often follows a pattern as well. I avoid the triggers I can, and pray especially bard about those I can’t. Often, I find I step in them. I’ve learned to make adjustments and one of the biggest helps that God has shown me in avoiding triggers was to reprioritize. Honestly, the freedom I have now didn’t happen overnight or by a minister laying on hands etc. (boy wouldn’t that have been great lol). Instead, it has come after years of praying and falling and praying and falling and praying and falling. In all that falling, Jesus was there picking me up again, and in many ways, it was in all that falling that I really got to know Jesus intimately. I began to see my struggling differently, and as that happened, I went from victim to victor even if I still felt like a victim. Oh gosh, now I’m rambling. You’ll probably think I’m not making any sense. Last piece of advice about depression, don’t beat yourself up too much, don’t do the Devil’s work for him. I hope you don’t think I’m a rambling fool. God bless you.
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Thanks, man. Your not rambling. I think I understand what you are saying. I thought about the reprioritization thing and it’s starting to make sense.
Maybe I’ve been putting too much focus on certain areas of my life at the expense of others, and when things don’t go well, the downward spiral begins. I need to achieve some kind of balance, but mostly through prayer and not allowing emotions to take control.
Thanks! God bless you.
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What an amazing post thank you so much for sharing this
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Thank you! 🙂
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Thanks for stopping by my blog. I have struggled with depression and anxiety, anxiety more than depression. I find it pushes me to God, so it’s a bad thing that I can find something good about.
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It was my pleasure. Depression and anxiety affect much of my family to various degrees. It has been such a blessing to share with others who can relate and that we can find God in our struggles.
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Reblogged this on Who's the more foolish…the fool or the fool who follows him? and commented:
Very good blog
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Thank you for the compliment. I really appreciate it!
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I’m new and just starting to read other blogs now, I’m suffering with depression at the moment, I really need to try get back into a routine again, the hardest thing is opening up to others though. I will try now though.
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Opening up to others is one of the most difficult things, at least it is for me to this day, so my compliments to you. Keep up the good fight. One thing that has been great about blogging is to see that we are not alone.
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This is my experience of depression, it feels light to share my feelings :
https://thepragatimisrathoughts.wordpress.com/2017/07/25/when-things-fall-apart/
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Thank you for stopping by. I’ll check out your link this evening. Have a blessed day!
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Thanks a lot and have a nice day 😊
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I have family members that are dealing with depression. It’s so hard to watch them suffer. I so look forward to God’s Kingdom when all pain, suffering and sorrow will be a thing of the past (Revelation 21:3,4) and we will never have to worry about depression again.
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Amen!
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I to have had periods o depression and anxiety during my life. thank you for the follow!
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You’re welcome! God bless you!
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Thank you for sharing! I especially like the statement, “We are spiritual, yet we are physical; one need not come at the expense of the other.” It can be so difficult to find that balance! But with God’s help this becomes possible. Thank you again.
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You’re very welcome! It is a tough balance. God bless.
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I love your post, more so because I am currently battling with depression. I get very emmotional even just thinking about about it and wanting to express myself but I just want to say thank you for your post.
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You’re welcome. Isolation is one of depression’s greatest weapons, so you sharing that means so much to me. God bless you!
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Dude. Your cool. We’re both following each other so let’s be cool like that. You’re a good writer.
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Thank you very much!
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Gita: 2: 62, 63: “While contemplating the objects of senses (People, money, power, etc.) a person develops (excessive) attachment for them, and from such attachment selfish desire develops, and from it arises anger (perhaps out of frustration). From anger arises delusion (grandiosity, paranoia), and from delusion bewilderment of memory (cognitive functions deteriorate). When memory is bewildered, intelligence (wisdom) is lost (we begin to make stupid mistakes). When this happens, one falls into degradation (one becomes totally stressed-out).”
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Thank you for commenting. This is a subject that God has made near and dear to my heart. God bless you!
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When we see things as they truly are – weaknesses and strengths all merge into the singularity of who we are.
My brother suffered and died at the hands of depression . so I can understand all that challenges you speak of
Do ready my post ‘There are always songs to sing’ that shares the above experience
God Bless you Jason. . Keep walking
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Thank you, and I’ll check out your post! God bless you!
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Great blog here! Additionally your web site rather a lot up very fast! What web host are you using? Can I am getting your affiliate link for your host? I want my web site loaded up as fast as yours lol
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I use WordPress.
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