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Featured Considering the problem of depression & discouragement!

Discussion in 'General Baptist Discussions' started by jim62, May 3, 2012.

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  1. jim62

    jim62 New Member

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    CONSIDERING THE PROBLEM OF
    DEPRESSION & DISCOURAGEMENT!

    Recognizing the Problem

    Depression is a prolonged feeling of sadness, discouragement and an inability to get on top of things. It is probably the most common emotional problem that people have today. The following symptoms may be present when a person is depressed:


    Physical:

    Insomnia, loss of appetite, loss of weight, loss of interest in sex, complaints about the body, lack of energy.


    Thinking patterns:

    Difficulty concentrating, poor memory, trouble making decisions, excessive self-criticism, thoughts of death or suicide.


    Emotions:

    Despair, guilt, irritability, crying, fear, gloomy outlook (sometimes masked by such opposite behavior as giddiness, inappropriate laughter, or pronounced quietness and sweetness.)

    Activity:
    Slowing of most activity, withdrawal from social contact, or the desire to withdraw, deterioration of work and personal appearance. Risk of suicide is strong for the extremely depressed person, as is the risk of mental or emotional breakdown.


    Biblical Perspective

    Discouragement can be caused by circumstances beyond a person’s control: dead-end job, marital difficulties, criticism from friends, and family, etc. It can also arise from the sense of failure or inadequacy, which could be caused even by seemingly insignificant factors in a person’s life. These factors can gradually multiply into a grave problem in the person’s life.

    Often discouragement and depression is rooted in sin, as seen in Psalm 38:3-8; 32:1-5. With a prolonged feeling of sadness can come a growing distrust of God. There may be guilt from blaming God for the events, circumstances, and people with whom we have to do, and with whom we may be bitter as well. Often this is further seen in resentments and self-pity.

    All of these factors can lead to guilt, inactivity, doubting, complaining, and worrying, so that the person may feel as though he’s in an inescapable pit. Many admirable biblical characters experienced discouragement but the Bible gives
    evidence that hope in God’s mercy and steadfast love provides deliverance from depression.

    What are Further Causes of Depression?


    1. Lack of Adequate Rest. I Kings 19:3-4

    2. Lack of proper diet.
    I King 19: 6-7

    3. Frustration and anger at God or others.
    Gen. 4:6; Num. 11:11; I King 19:10, 14

    4. Excessive stress. Matt. 26:37-38
    • a person fails to delegate: Num. 11:14
    • a person fails to trust God: I King 19:1-4

    5. Feeling sorry for oneself because of circumstances.
    Num. 11:11-14; Psa. 77:3; Jonah 4:1-4

    6. Disobedience to God’s revealed will.
    Gen. 4:6; II Sam 12:1-18; Psa. 51:1-12; Jonah 4:1-4

    7. Personal expectations of others or God that are not realized.

    • Jonah didn’t want Nineveh to repent.
    Jonah 4:1-4
    • Elijah wanted people to turn to God.
    I Kings 19: 10-14
    • Moses wanted Israelites to turn to God.
    Num. 11:10-14

    8. Fear of what might happen. I King 19:3

    9. Loneliness. I King 19:4


    What Are The Examples of Depression in Scripture?


    1. Cain’s depression was caused by disobedience to God’s revealed will.
    Gen. 4:6-7

    2. Moses’ depression was caused by excessive stress. Num. 11:11-15


    3. Elijah’s depression was caused by personal high expectations, fatigue, lack of food, a fear of Jezebel and loneliness. I King 19

    4. David’s depression was caused by his adultery. II Sam. 12:1-17;
    Psa. 32:1-5

    5. Jonah’s depression was caused by circumstances that did not go as he desired, and disobedience to God’s will for his life. Jon. 4:3

    6. Christ’s depression was caused by excessive stress prior to the crucifixion. Matt. 26:37-38


    What Are the Characteristics of a
    Depressed Person?


    1. Complaining about his circumstances.
    Num. 11:14; Psa. 38:4; 77:3

    2. Desire to be alone.
    I King 19:3-4

    3. Seeing no meaning or purpose in his life.
    I King. 19:4

    4. Loss of joy. Psa. 51:8, 12

    5. Sense of problems being overwhelming.
    Psa. 77:3-4

    6. Continual focus on one’s problems even into the night with loss of sleep.
    Psa. 77:6

    7. Questioning of God’s goodness.
    Psa. 77:7-9

    8. Anger and jealousy.
    I Kings 19:10, 14; Jonah 4:1-4

    9. Facial expression of despondency.
    Psa. 38:6; Matt. 26:37-38

    10. Physical exhaustion.
    Psa. 38:10

    11. Imagined exaggerated calamities that may come upon him.
    I Kings 19:10, 14, 18; Psa. 38:11-12



    What Is the Biblical Solution of Depression?


    1. Proper eating habits. I Kings 19:5-7

    2. Proper rest. I Kings 19:4-7

    3. Sharing your inner feelings with another concerned person or God.
    I Kings 19:9-10, 21; Matt. 26:37-38

    4. Resolve unnecessary stress by delegating position or work to others.
    Num. 11:10-25

    5. Determine areas of responsibility that have been neglected and begin to focus on them. I Kings 19:15-18

    6. Confess all known sin, if sin is the cause.
    Gen. 4:5-7; Ps. 51:1-4; 8-12

    7. Focus and meditate on God’s goodness and greatness and share it with others. Psa. 42:5; 77:2, 11-15


    A typical believer will face difficult situations as Paul faced, but will not allow them to destroy his outlook on life or his effectiveness. See II Cor. 4:8-9.

    Paul was: Troubled......... but ......... not crushed
    Perplexed....... but ......... not despairing
    Persecuted..... but ......... not forsaken
    Struck down....but ......... not destroyed



    Brief, But Positive Answers!

    1. God cares and is concerned for YOU. Isa. 41:10

    2. Biblical confession of sin and failure will relieve a lot of depression.
    Psa. 32:1-5; 103:1-5

    3. Total trust in the Lord’s providential will and plan for the life is so important. Phil. 2:13; 4:13; II Tim. 1:7; Rom. 12:3; 8:28-29, 37;
    Eph. 6:10

    4. Christ’s YOKE for our lives is not only easy, but HE CARRIES it with us. Matt. 11:28-30

    5. We must in everything give thanks, for this is HIS will and the way of rest and peace. I Thess. 5:18; Eph. 5:20; Phil. 4:6-8
     
  2. seekingthetruth

    seekingthetruth New Member

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    Sadly, there are a few on here that believe that mental illness is a myth, and that depression, anxiety, ect, are caused by sin.

    I suffer from bipolar disorder, and was not diagnosed and treated until i reached 50 years old. I came close to death from it, so I know how devastating it can be.

    John
     
  3. Steadfast Fred

    Steadfast Fred Active Member

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    Mental illness is a myth. Depression, anxiety, etc., are not of God, (whatsoever is not of faith is sin)

    Remember the story of king Saul? Saul was up one day, down the next. Buddy buddy with David one moment and trying to kill him the next. Psychiatrists today would diagnose Saul as suffering from bipolar.

    Too bad someone didn't fill God in on what was wrong with Saul.
     
  4. seekingthetruth

    seekingthetruth New Member

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    How do you know Saul wasn't bipolar, and why would you think that God didnt know about it? I am quite certain that God has a reason for allowing me to have this disorder, just as He had reasons for whatever crosses Saul had to bear.

    I have never wished my mental disorder on anyone, but I truley believe that you would deserve it.

    John
     
  5. Steadfast Fred

    Steadfast Fred Active Member

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    Nice "christian" attitude ya got there.
     
  6. Arbo

    Arbo Active Member
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    They way you have goaded others in another thread about the same topic gives you little room to make statements like this.
     
  7. preachinjesus

    preachinjesus Well-Known Member
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    Where did this come from? I thought seekingthethruth's posts have been very graceful. Now if you've got an agenda and just want a right then there are other places that you can go to do this.

    Mental illness is a problem for many people. Though I don't suffer with it I do know plenty who do. The deception of nouthetic counseling is that it removes obvious chemical issues related to mental disease and asserts a failed theology where helpful medicine should prevail. Depression can be a serious issue and help should be sought out. Hopefully reasonable people will come into one's life and show them love and understanding.
     
  8. jim62

    jim62 New Member

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    Proverbs 18:13

    King James Version (KJV)

    13 He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him. James 1:19

    King James Version (KJV)

    19 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: That's the problem with some Christians today, they shout their mouths off without thinking of how it effects others. Some have not the understanding of what the other person is talking about. You are to get info on the matter at hand before you speak, and know what your talking a bout.
     
  9. freeatlast

    freeatlast New Member

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    Too many today seek to cover their sin by putting a so called medical name on their condition. People do not get depressed as if depression is something you can get from a germ. Depression comes from sin and the sin could be anything from, forgiveness, coveting, worry brought on by greed, conviction, and many other things, but depression is from sin as is any issue claimed as a mental issue.
    Any person in the scriptures that is accused of being depressed is because of prior or ongoing sin. The same is today every time.
     
  10. Arbo

    Arbo Active Member
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    *Sigh* Or grief, or exhaustion, or prolonged stress, or childbirth, or brain injury...

    None of these are sins.
     
  11. seekingthetruth

    seekingthetruth New Member

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    I was born with a mental disorder.

    What sin do you suppose i committed before I was even born?

    John
     
  12. Steadfast Fred

    Steadfast Fred Active Member

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    All are born guilty of sin.

    Jeremiah 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?

    Romans 3:10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:

    Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
     
  13. jim62

    jim62 New Member

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    "freeatlast"- Not everything comes from sin,
    John 9:1-3

    King James Version (KJV)

    9 And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth.
    2 And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?
    3 Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him. You also need to show me scriptures to back up what your saying.
     
  14. Steadfast Fred

    Steadfast Fred Active Member

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    Blindness is a physical condition, not a fabricated illness. Apples and oranges.

    The Word of God has many verses that deal with depression. I haven't come across any that advise the depressed to take a pill.
     
  15. jim62

    jim62 New Member

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    Steadfast Fred-- so your telling me that a blind person dose not deal with depression of being blind?
     
  16. seekingthetruth

    seekingthetruth New Member

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    My mental illness is also caused by a physical condition, so what is the difference?

    John
     
  17. Steadfast Fred

    Steadfast Fred Active Member

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    Jim62,

    I am sure blind people get depressed just as sighted people do.

    I have never denied the fact that people get depressed. What I am advocating is a simple Biblical formula that will work when one gets depressed.

    Trust God.

    For He hath not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; neither hath He his His face from him;but when he cried unto Him,He heard. Psalm 37: 24

    Wait on the Lord: be of good courage,and He shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say on the Lord. Psalm 27:14

    The Lord is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and He knoweth them that trust in Him. Nahum 1:7

    Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and He shall sustain thee; He shall never suffer the righteous to be moved. Psalm 55:22

    These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace; In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. John 16:33

    There are many persecutions and trials that man has to face in his brief lifetime. I say brief because it is brief when compared with eternity. But God's Word has the answer to those trials that would come upon us and cause depression. His Word tells us to "Look on Him."

    Look at all that the Apostle Paul went through,

    2 Corinthians 4:8-10 We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.

    Paul came to realize that whatever state he was in, to be content. Paul knew that his light afflictions were but for a season.

    God's answer to depression can be found in His Holy Word. It is His Word He wants man to rely on. He wants man to be dependent upon Him. When man goes elsewhere for answers when He has already given answers, it puts Him on the backburner. What He has to say, and His answer to their problems is not as important to them.

    Do you not think He would be jealous when people ignore Him and go to others for answers to depression?

    Who knows best, God? ... or a psychiatrist?

    I'm going with God.
     
  18. Steadfast Fred

    Steadfast Fred Active Member

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    Fanny Crosby, author of over 8000 songs, was totally blind at an early age. Her Grandmother taught her to go to the Word of God when she was depressed, that God's Word could strengthen her heart and bring joy to her soul.

    That advice from her Grandmother remained with Fanny all her life. At eight years old, she wrote

    Oh, what a happy child I am, although I cannot see!
    I am resolved that in this world contented I will be!
    How many blessings I enjoy that other people don't!
    So weep or sigh because I'm blind, I cannot - nor I won't.
     
  19. freeatlast

    freeatlast New Member

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    Let's take grief, exhaustion prolonged stress, and childbirth. None of those cause depression. What does cause it is hanging on to them and not trusting in the Lord which is sin.
    As to brain injury it has never caused depression. The person may become depressed but that is because they are not trusting the Lord in the situation. It is easy to trust Him when all is well, but when things go wrong that is the test of our faith. All depression is due to some sort of sin. I am afraid that the church has become like the world seeking excuses for their sins.
     
  20. freeatlast

    freeatlast New Member

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    AMEN! :thumbsup:
     
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