I woke up today with a heavy mind. So many of my friends and family are in a "depression" or sad about issues in their lives. I struggle with right words for each person or something that may lift them up. I have told some to pray because I don't have the words or experience to say something. I have reminded some of them blessings that I can see in their lives. I think about myself when I have those days or weeks. Its no fun being on that end of the table. Where you feel like nobody cares, that any minute somebody is going to remind you that last few dollars you have is for a bill. Depression can destroy a day, a relationship and a life. Do nonbelievers look at us and wonder why we don't depend on our God. Use the faith we talk about? And with that simple question I decided explore and read on this subject. I am guilty of the same emotions as my friends. Do I sound that way or say things that make others think I don't have faith? Here is what I read and pulled together to share with my friends and to save for my rainy day.

Depression: A state of feeling sad - an emotion. Realize that you can't base life on your emotions.

Christians base life on truth, not feelings. Philippians 4:1 commands us to rejoice (whether we feel like it or not!). And James 1:2 asks us to “Consider it all joy when we fall into various trials.” Notice that James doesn't tell us to feel joyful; he tells us to reckon, to choose to think about your situation as a spot where you can have joy.

Faith
Choosing to trust truth rather than your feelings may require a lot of faith. And if that is what we mean by asking if faith can solve depression, then faith may be enough in some cases. Trusting what God says rather than your feelings is certainly a more realistic approach to life

Heed God's Advice
However, many people talk about “faith” and only mean a vague hope that God will somehow pull them through. That's too nebulous a concept to be reliable. Many of the same people who claim to have faith keep plunging through life ignoring God's principles for healthy living. If we spurn the good advice that the Bible contains, we won't escape the consequences - even if we have faith.

So next time I am depressed I am going to read my own post. And here is a simple checklist for myself.

*Avoid being alone. Force yourself to be with people.
*Seek help from others.
*Sing. Music can uplift your spirit as it did for King Saul (1 Samuel 16:14-23).
*Praise and give thanks. “In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Thessalonians 5:18).
*Lean heavily on the power of God's Word.
*Rest confidently in the presence of God's Spirit. “Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him For the help of His countenance” (Psalm 42:5).

Love in Prayer,
Heather Lynne