Defeating Depression – Part 2
Pastor Bruce E. Parks
Defeating Depression – Part 2
By
Pastor Bruce E. Parks
God''s plan of counseling
Today there are many theories regarding how to counsel people with
emotional and personal problems. There are those that believe in
being very direct, not mincing words, telling the person what he needs
to do to overcome his inner struggles. Other people are more inclined
to use a non-directive, emphasizing the importance of listening to
people assuming they will come up with their own solution.
Unfortunately, both approaches represent an either/ or position. The
truth is, at times, people just need someone to listen to them and at
other times, they need a boat load of specific directions. Now in
most instances, people struggling with problems like depression, need
both a sympathetic listening ear as well as good information as to how
to overcome , defeat and solve their problems.
We shall call the listening approach – ventilating and verbalizing.
And we shall call the direct approach – visualizing and verifying. It
takes a great deal of wisdom to maintain a balance, and that balance
has to be given by God. Through the Lord''s approach in each person''s
particular circumstances, He gives us a model that yields some very
powerful principles that will help us maintain the balance in a
variety of counseling situations. God''s model is once again found in
the book of 1Kings with Elijah.
After Elijah''s stunning and overwhelming defeat of the prophets of
Baal and the subsequent threat by Jezebel and the enormous physical
strain during the entire set of encounters, Elijah sat down with heavy
feet and a heavy heart and just decided, - Lord, just kill me and take
me home. Now we''ll look at how the Lord healed Elijah and can heal
you to of the depression you suffer.
Principle #1 - God listened to Elijah
In verse 9 of 1 Kings 19, God asked the question, " What are you doing
here Elijah?". I think we all would agree that God never asks a
question because He doesn''t know the answer. The question that God
asked Elijah was to give him an opportunity to ventilate and
verbalize. Elijah''s response in verse 10, says "I have been very
zealous for the Lord God almighty. The Israelites have rejected your
covenant, broken down your altars, and put your prophets to death with
the sword. I am the only one left, and now they''re trying to kill me
too." God listened and did not interrupt and allowed Elijah to speak
his heart. He did not argue with Elijah, call into question his faith
or accuse him of not performing to the highest standards instead, He
just listened.
Principle #2 - God provided
The Lord recognized that a portion of Elijah''s emotional blow-out came
from a depletion of his physical man. He was overworked and had
tapped into his physical reserves to the point of exhaustion. Until
you have restored yourself physically, your brain will try to shut
itself down in order to preserve what strength you have left. When
you''re physically exhausted, it''s difficult to think straight, to
reason, and to see reality the way God wants you to. In order to
restore Elijah physically, He provided for him with food and drink.
Principle #3 – God will cause you to face reality
Jesus said, "I am the truth" and therefore everything He does is
truthful and He knows that the truth will make us free. We often hide
ourselves in distorted reality which causes severe anxiety and
depression and results in us relying too much on experience and not
in faith. Whenever God brings us into reality, He is really
developing objectivity. Once we know the truth and see the truth, we
begin to hear the pattern of God''s whisper that brings us to
restoration. God used several events in the cleft of the rock to
bring Elijah to reality: through wind, earthquakes, and fire, God
showed Elijah the reality and blessings of the still small voice.
Conclusion
Depression is a common and natural emotional state. It is activated
by any number of external and internal stimuli. Physical exhaustion ,
an overtaxed mind , unsolvable problems and a regretted past can all
trigger emotion. I believe that any person capable of exalting and
worshipping God with high praise is susceptible to the low places of
depression. We must remember that God is always listening. Whether
we believe it or not, He does and He is right now. We must believe
that God has the answer, whether we believe it or not. He is your
peace in the storm, your solution to every trial and tribulation. He
has in His hand the sword that brings destruction to your depression
that you might live with and for the Prince of Peace.
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