5 Things to Consider in the Midst of Depression

 Sadness is an expression of grief or unhappiness. It often precedes a brief season of depression.

I am generally an upbeat, positive person. Cheerful, encouraging, and hopeful describe me most days.

So why do I find myself feeling so sad at times?  What causes me to well-up inside and become so despondent?  Why can't I control my emotions better - especially in the presence of other believers?

When you live in an unequally-yoked marriage, you feel like you just don't belong in the local church the same way a Christian married couple does. You are essentially a "lone" Christ follower. Your habits and routines are different. Your giving and commitments are different. Your spiritual cadence is different from the other couples. You feel so out-of-step with everyone else. Here is a post I wrote earlier that deals with some of those differences titled  Are You Missing In Action?

Depression is a valid emotion in the cycle of life. Don't let anyone tell you not to feel sad or depressed. You are a human being, not a robot.  However, you can "visit" depression on occasion - just don't take up permanent "residence" there.

In I Kings 19:1-18 we read about Elijah and his struggles with depression. After God miraculously displayed His divine power on Mount Carmel, Elijah withdrew into the desert armed with a death wish. He hid in a cave and wailed "woe is me" before accusing God of leaving him all alone to fight the heathen foreigners.

King David struggled with depression and feelings of intense sadness more than once. Some of his emotions had to do with blatant sin, while others dealt with fear and rejection. He often questioned God about the whole matter.

Here are some of David's heartfelt pleas:  Lord, how long will You look on? Rescue me from their destruction... (Psalm 35:17)  Lord, all my desire is before You; and my sighing is not hidden from You. (Psalm 38:9)  Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? (Psalm 42:5)  Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me! For my soul trusts in You. (Psalm 57:1) Lord, I cry out to You; make haste to me! Give ear to my voice when I cry out to You. (Psalm 141:1)

It's okay to cry out to God and raise the question "Why?"

God already knows our struggles and fears. He sees down the road of uncertainty. He is aware of the pitfalls and traps laid by the enemy. He cannot be taken by surprise. Nothing is too difficult for Him to deal with.  So why do we fret and get ourselves so worked up over things we have little or no control over? What do we do with the intense feelings of sadness and heaviness that blanket our souls? How do we make sense of the heartache and sorrowful countenance?

Here are five possible reasons for your sadness...

1.  We are grieving the fact that our marriage partner isn't in sync with us spiritually. Believers have a spiritual discernment. We are instructed by the Spirit of God. Our unbelieving spouse can't grasp that concept and they are spiritually blind. Amos 3:3 declares, "Can two walk together, unless they are agreed?"  And Paul says in 2 Corinthians 6:14, "For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?"

2.  We are saddened by the thought that our best efforts haven't made a substantial difference in their spiritual conversion.  We have to be realistic here in our expectations. God is the one who draws unbelievers into fellowship with Himself. As Paul says in I Corinthians 3:6, "I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase."

3.  We have difficulty processing the fact that our marriage might never improve on the timetable or in the way we think it should. God has a specific plan for our marriage. He is never in a hurry, and He is never late. The important thing to remember is God wants to do what will bring Him the "most glory" with regards to our mate's salvation. God has given them His permissive "free will" to choose salvation or to reject it. Our place is to pray for their spiritual enlightenment. (Romans 10:20)

4.  We can't seem to grasp the thought of differences that may never be reconciled. One of the hardest things to do is to examine our own emotions and then take steps to deal with them honestly. My previous post  Can't We All Just Get Along?  has some great pointers to help you stay on track.

5.  We reluctantly recognize that depression may visit us for a season. We must come to grips with the fact that we will have good and bad days, ups and downs, highs and lows. Every marriage experiences "seasons" - and quite often they coincide with major life events, changes, challenges, and family dynamics that we have no control over. Our spouse will not always give us the support we long for. However, you can count on this: Jesus will never leave us or forsake us. (Joshua 1:5)

So how do we move forward and regain our spiritual footing?

Be practical and proactive. Start by doing the basics: eat right, exercise, and get plenty of sleep. When you feel overwhelmed - take a deep breath and prioritize. Give yourself permission to process sadness and grief. Keep yourself centered on God's Word. Pray for wisdom and understanding. Reprogram your mind to think on "things that are true, noble, just, pure, lovely, of good report, and virtuous" (Philippians 4:8).

Don't worry - and be happy might just be words from a popular song - but they also help to redirect your thoughts. Our Lord Jesus put it this way, "And which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? If you then are not able to do the least, why are you anxious for the rest?" (Luke 12:25-26).

God will help you with your feelings of sadness and depression. Prayer and meditating on His Word brings comfort and security. God is our Wonderful Counselor (Isaiah 9:6).

Stay well connected with Christian friends. Continue with your small group studies and church activities when you find yourself wanting to withdraw. We were meant to be part of a community of believers. Encourage one another and extend grace even when it is undeserved.

Each day begins with a clean slate. Every dawn holds new opportunities and possibilities. Today is a good day for a good day...

Deborah is the author of a Christian non-fiction book titled “Mission Possible”. It was written for women who love the Lord Jesus, but their spouse doesn’t share their passion.  It will encourage and challenge the reader to embrace God’s promises for their spouse and future together. Visit  http://www.spirituallyunevenmarriage.com

 If you have been encouraged by this post - please take time to share it with others.

 

 

5 Things to Consider in the Midst of Depression

Is Exercise Really Good For Us?

As I begin to approach my mid-sixties, I am amazed at how quickly the last thirty years have flown by! I am the mother of an adult married son who is now a father to two darling children (my sweet grand kids), and I’m sharing our empty-nest full-time with a retired husband.

I was listening to a pastor’s message on the Christian radio station in my area, and heard a familiar verse that some have used in a humorous way: "exercise profits little".  But as I listened to his sermon, I began to hear and understand it in a whole new light.

I Timothy 4:8 says, “For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having the promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come.”

Another translation puts it this way:  "...physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things ..."

A brisk walk lowers blood pressure, lowers your cholesterol, and reduces stress on the body. Engaging in some form of regular physical exercise will generally add years to your lifespan. Exercise helps to reduce harmful chemicals in our bodies, and provides a form of abreaction (letting off steam), builds up stamina, counteracts the biochemical effects of stress, and reduces the risk of psychological illness.

I attend a local gym and wear a workout monitor belt using My Zone to track my physical exertion. It tracks your heart rate & is nearly equivalent to an EKG. It shows and rewards your effort (as a percentile) when you work out, as well as your calories burned. The intensity is displayed using color-coded zones. Time spent in each zone is converted into MyZone Effort Points (MEP's) which rewards you based on effort and not your fitness level.

As women of faith, our temples need to be strong and fit, for that is where the Holy Spirit resides. We might not accumulate MEP's, but we will certainly notice when our efforts are making a difference in our personal lives. Spiritual wellness is more important than the latest fad diet or workout routine.

Health and fitness are godly goals when they are balanced with common sense and right priority. In biblical times, physical exercise was not touted as necessary because people living in that time period generally walked everywhere and performed manual labor on a daily basis.

As Christians, sometimes we focus too much on programs, bible studies and the latest book craze for your prayer life or child rearing. All those things in and of themselves are  a good thing, but they shouldn't be the main thing. Our spiritual exercise should consist of reading the Holy scriptures, spending time thanking God and conversing with Him on a regular basis, and practicing our godliness in our everyday lives. Our family, friends and co-workers should see the fruit of our spiritual workouts.

Verse 7 prefaces the previous passage with the following, “…and exercise yourself rather to godliness.”

Spiritually speaking, when we exercise godliness through prayer, Bible study, and self-control, we keep our spiritual man [woman] healthy. But what good is it if we take care of the physical body, but neglect our spiritual woman and coddle our sinful nature?

The eternal value is mentioned in verse 8.  Paul makes it clear that whatever we are doing for the here and now is indeed profitable – even commendable, but that which is to come is of more value and lasting. Taking care of the spirit woman, which is incorruptible and lives forever, is far more important than maintaining a corruptible body that will slowly decay in this world.

Exercise is not my god, nor do I place my fate in its hands. Jesus is my God! Sure, I walk my dog every morning and I still go to the gym a few times a week to a Team workout class.  I make it a point to stay active, eat right, and get a good night’s sleep. But for me, keeping my spirit woman healthy and fit is a higher, God-ordained priority.


Let God speak to you about your “spiritual workout".  What type of changes could you make to minister to your spirit woman as you aim to better your physical woman?

Deborah is the author of a Christian non-fiction book titled “Mission Possible”. It was written for women who love the Lord Jesus, but their spouse doesn’t share their passion.  It will encourage and challenge the reader to embrace God’s promises for their spouse and future together.  Visit  http://www.spirituallyunevenmarriage.com

If you have been encouraged by this post - please take time to share it with others.

Is Exercise Really Good For Us?

Independence Day – Freedom is Yours!

Independence Day, commonly known as the Fourth of July, is a celebrated federal holiday commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence. On July 2, 1776 legal separation of the American colonies from the kingdom of Great Britain occurred, declaring freedom from their tyrannical rule. Afterwards, the Second Continental Congress debated and revised the Declaration, finally approving it on July 4th. Independence Day is commonly associated with fireworks, parades, barbecues, carnivals, fairs, picnics, concerts, baseball games, political speeches, ceremonies, and various other public and private events celebrating the United States of America’s history, government, and traditions.

In the 1996 science fiction film “Independence Day”, starring Will Smith & Jeff Goldblum, a hostile alien force invades earth. The doomsday film holds the record for one of the highest worldwide grossing films of all-time, and was at the forefront of the large-scale disaster film and science fiction resurgences of the mid-to-late-1990's. Being attacked ruthlessly by an unknown assailant brought out the best in earth’s defenses, as the movie’s heroes led the attack in rather unconventional ways. Of course, the earth (good guys) won in the end. 

The earth today is also under attack from a hideous enemy whose only mission is to “steal, kill, and destroy” (John 10:10). Our Hero, Jesus, has already prevailed against this formidable foe. He has secured our freedom by His great sacrifice, that we might be released from death’s grip.  Our Hero has overcome death, hell and the grave!

Good news, we (God’s children) win in the end! God’s Word declares victory in Christ over every evil on Judgment Day. He has bought us with His precious blood and guaranteed our eternal liberation from death and destruction. Jesus is our Independence Day – now and forever.

Galatians 5:1  -  Three translations

   It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. (NIV)
   Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. (KJV)
   It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery. (NAS)

Scriptures on freedom and liberty:

Speaking to Jewish believers, Jesus said, “Therefore, if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.“  (John 8:36)


[Jesus] Himself will proclaim liberty to the captives, and open the prison [doors] to those who are bound. (Isaiah 61:1)


"The Lord will let the oppressed go free, and break every yoke." (Isaiah 58:6)


James states in Chapter 1 verse 25, “but he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does."



"Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty." (II Corinthians 3:17)  We are free to be “re-made” – changed into a new creature in Christ.


"For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God." (Romans 8:20-21).

Freedom isn't free - it cost Jesus everything... 
Paul writes, "...for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23), "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8), "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 6:23).

Happy Independence Day!

Independence Day – Freedom is Yours!

Guest Author Kristine McGuire & "Escaping the Cauldron"

I'd like to introduce you to Kristine McGuire, author of the book "Escaping the Cauldron: Ghosts and the Paranormal".  Have you experimented with the occult? Do you find yourself being pulled into the paranormal?  There are Christians who have, and Kristine was one of them.

Kristine McGuire has written a book that is a must read for any parent, friend or family member who has known someone trapped by the spiritual underworld and its web of lies. Her book “Escaping the Cauldron” systematically breaks down the allure of the paranormal, and why so many spiritually hungry people are drawn to its appealing qualities of excitement and intrigue. Kristine candidly exposes not only her own fascination with the occult, but her sincere regret at pursuing this warped version of spiritual intimacy. She readily concurs that Jesus Christ is the only True spiritual guide for her as a believer, and that her past involvement with demonic spirits was foolish and dangerous. Her use of the Holy scriptures make the argument that only God’s Word can truly open the eyes of the spiritually blind, and that He alone can bring healing and restoration to a life in the clutches of evil spirits and demonic activity. Kristine has truly written a book that will make the demons tremble and satan packing his bags for a one-way trip back to his pit. I recommend giving this book to anyone who is living in a danger zone with one foot in the kingdom of God, and one foot in satan’s den. “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” (Matthew 19:26)     [Reviewed by Deb McCarragher]

This is an excerpt from Kristine's book:
     A little over a year ago God gave me a vision. He wanted me to share the story of how He rescued me from the occult. I knew I was meant to write a book about my experiences but the question was how should
I go about it?  As I began exploring options my husband, Thom, encouraged me to create a blog. A place to share my thoughts about daily life as a Christian, and inform others about the occult through my past experiences as a witch, medium, and ghost hunter. I thought that sounded like a good idea and so Kristine Remixed was created.  "Escaping the Cauldron" was inspired from a collection of articles I wrote on the topics of ghosts, ghost hunting, and mediums for Kristine ReMixed, October - December 2009.  The idea behind "Escaping the Cauldron", and future books in the series, is to create an easy resource for you to share with others; arranged in a format where each chapter can either stand alone or as a unified whole. Allowing you, the reader, to pick and choose what you want to read.  My prayer is that "Escaping the Cauldron: Ghosts and the Paranormal" will bring honor to my Savior, Jesus Christ, and help raise awareness in the church to the current unprecedented interest in the occult in America. I hope this book will be an encouragement to those who may be questioning their faith, as I once did, or who may be doing some dabbling themselves.
 
Here is a brief interview with Kristine:  
What is the book about?
The book is part of my testimony of how I went from being a committed, but legalistic, Christian for 29 years to being a witch, medium, and ghost hunter for eight years before God restored my faith and life. The book also examines the current popular interest in the paranormal and how it is affecting Christians, their beliefs, etc.

Why call it Escaping the Cauldron?
This is actually the first book in a series about the occult. I chose to write several books that are basically collections of essay's inspired by my blog and written from my personal experiences as a witch, medium, and ghost hunter. The first one honestly has more to do with ghost hunting, mediumship, and the paranormal but I chose "Escaping the Cauldron" as the title of the series because (for me) witchcraft was truly my entry into a variety of areas of occult interest including divination, developing psychic ability and mediumship, ghost hunting, etc. So when I was finally able to turn away from witchcraft (escape the cauldron) I found freedom from the occult in general.

What do you think is the most important chapter of the book?
I think there are several chapters that are important but I suppose Haunting Spirits is one I think people should read because it discusses what is behind hauntings and ghost activity. Many people want to believe loved ones can come back to visit or haunt a location as a ghost but I don't believe the Bible supports that idea.

What do you hope to accomplish with this book?
Honestly, I simply want the church to begin acknowledging the presence of a spirit world and listen to people who come forward with stories and claims of paranormal experiences without dismissing them immediately. When the church refuses to listen people are forced to seek help elsewhere and that means ghost hunters, mediums, and psychics. I also hope to encourage Christians who may be questioning their faith to seek a deeper relationship with God, especially if they are stuck in a form of legalism. Our answers truly can be found in Jesus Christ.
  

 

Kristine is a Christian wife and mother. She works with her husband, Thom, through Big Fish Ministries, is a Biblical Counselor, and writes for her blog, Kristine ReMixed. Kristine has published her book, "Escaping the Cauldron", detailing her former experiences as a witch, medium, and ghost hunter. In the book she discusses the current interest in the Occult and how it is subtly influencing Christians. Kristine also is a featured columnist for http://www.positivelyfeminine.org/ . You can purchase her book at http://www.kristinemcguire.com/  and from Lulu.com or Amazon.com.

Guest Author Kristine McGuire & "Escaping the Cauldron"