depression, stress, worry, faith, Christian bible counsel

Tribulation and Distress
Page 2 of Part 2 - Learning to Cope
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If you are severely depressed...

Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to the disciples, "Sit here while I go and pray over there.'' And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and He began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed.

Then He said to them, "My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me.'' He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, "O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.'' Mt 26.36-39 Some folks say that "Spirit-filled Christians don't get depressed." Baloney!!!

The words Jesus spoke in the garden of Gethsemane show that deep depression came even unto God's only begotten Son!

The physical effects of depression

Jesus suffered spiritual and emotional agony in the garden of Gethsemane. This agony caused PHYSICAL problems for Him, to the extent that His sweat became like drops of blood.

Severe and prolonged depression can cause physical distress such as the following...

Headaches, stomach problems, and other aches and pains
Dizzy spells
Sleep problems
Weight loss or gain
Inability to concentrate
Chest sensations
Lethargy (constant tiredness; may stay in bed all day)
Supersensitivity to noise
And being in agony, He (Jesus) prayed more earnestly.

And His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground. Lk 22.44

You may need counseling for your depression

Prayer is good for dealing with depression. However, doctors are of God, too.

If you are depressed, and you are suffering physical symptoms, or "fading in and out of reality," get counsel. See a Medical Doctor NOW!

Physical problems can cause or aggravate depression.

The reverse is also true. That is, depression can cause or aggravate physical problems.

Examples of physical causes of depression include but are not limited to the following...

Blood sugar imbalances
Heart problems
Other chemical and hormonal imbalances in the physical system
Tumors, diseases
Abuse of drugs and medications

NOTE: Alcohol is a depressant!!! Alcohol WILL make your depression worse, not better.
Without counsel, plans go awry, but in the multitude of counselors they are established. Prov 15.22

If you feel deserted by God...

For if we would judge ourselves (for our sins), we would not be judged (by God). But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world. 1 Cor 11.31-32

But your iniquities have separated you from your God; and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear. Isa 59.2

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction. Prov 1.7

If we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
1 John 1.9
If you feel deserted by God, then you need to do a check-up on your spiritual health.

FACT -- God will judge and chastise a Christian who is involved in persistent sin.
FACT -- Sin in your life will severely disrupt your fellowship with God.

Accordingly, the first thing to do when trouble comes is to THINK...

Have your sins brought about God's discipline?
Have your sins erected a wall between you and your God?
If so, then you had better wake up and FEAR God! (Prov 1.7)

If you continue in sin, you are literally ASKING God to chastise you. Read Psalm 38 and fear, I say FEAR, your heavenly Father!

Yes, God loves you. It is because of God's love for you that He will not -- absolutely NOT -- allow you to have any joy in your sinful state.

Get right with God! If you have a sin problem, fear God and stop sinning! Confess your sin to God. Get God's forgiveness and cleansing. (1 John 1.9)

A side issue

Some folks say that all trouble is caused by personal sin. NOT TRUE! (John 9.1-3)

But yes, messing around with sin and demons can make you sick, or dead, or both. (Lk 13.11) Now as Jesus passed by, He saw a man who was blind from birth. And His disciples asked Him, saying, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?''
Jesus answered, "Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him. John 9.1-3

A woman was there who had been crippled by a spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not straighten up at all. Lk 13.11

If you feel hopeless...

And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.
Mt 21.22

And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
Heb 11.6 There is one main reason why Christians sometimes lose hope. That reason can best be explained by using an analogy...

Let's say that PRAYER is like a telephone call you make to God.

HOPE is like God's voice answering the phone and saying, "Don't fret, dear child. I love you. I will help you."

But there is an essential third part to this analogy. There must be a WIRE that connects between your telephone and God's telephone.

FAITH is the wire that connects you to God.

Without faith in God, your prayer phone is simply... disconnected. God's message of hope is not getting through to you.

Get connected

So Jesus answered and said to them, "Have faith in God." Mk 11.22

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it (your faith) is the gift of God Eph 2.8

For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. Rom 11.29

Jesus commanded you to have faith in God. (Mk 11.22) Jesus would NOT ask you to do the impossible.

When you received Christ as Savior, God gave you faith as a gift. (Eph 2.8) God does NOT take back His gifts.

If you lack hope, then you aren't exercising your faith but you DO have it.

For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "The just shall live by faith.''
Rom 1.17

You LIVE by faith.

Not that we have dominion over your faith, but are fellow workers for your joy;
For by faith you stand.
2 Cor 1.24

You STAND by faith.

For we walk by faith, not by sight.
2 Cor 5.7

You WALK by faith.

Fight the good fight of faith,
Lay hold on eternal life,
To which you were also called and have confessed the good confession
In the presence of many witnesses.
1 Tim 6.12

By faith, you FIGHT the wiles of the world, the flesh, and the devil.

For whatever is born of God overcomes the world.
And this is the victory that has overcome the world -- our faith.
1 John 5.4

You OVERCOME and have victory by faith.

Tenacity builds Faith builds Tenacity

The prophet Daniel exercised his faith by TENACIOUS PRAYER and FASTING.

How can you exercise your faith? Follow the examples of Jacob and Daniel!

(Always get your Medical Doctor's advice BEFORE entering into a fast.) Then I (Daniel) set my face toward the Lord God to make request by prayer and supplications, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes. Dan 9.3

In those days I, Daniel, was mourning three full weeks. I ate no pleasant food, no meat or wine came into my mouth, nor did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled. Dan 10.2-3

Jacob wrestled with God!

Jacob would NOT let go of God until God blessed him.

Tenacity! Persistence!

Faith is "never letting go of God"
And God said, "Let Me go, for the day breaks.''

But Jacob said, "I will not let You go unless You bless me!'' Gen 32.26

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If you are severely depressed...
Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to the disciples, "Sit here while I go and pray over there.'' And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and He began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed. Then He said to them, "My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me.'' He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, "O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.'' Mt 26.36-39		Some folks say that "Spirit-filled Christians don't get depressed." Baloney!!! The words Jesus spoke in the garden of Gethsemane show that deep depression came even unto God's only begotten Son!

The physical effects of depression
Jesus suffered spiritual and emotional agony in the garden of Gethsemane. This agony caused PHYSICAL problems for Him, to the extent that His sweat became like drops of blood. Severe and prolonged depression can cause physical distress such as the following... Headaches, stomach problems, and other aches and pains Dizzy spells Sleep problems Weight loss or gain Inability to concentrate Chest sensations Lethargy (constant tiredness; may stay in bed all day) Supersensitivity to noise		And being in agony, He (Jesus) prayed more earnestly. And His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground. Lk 22.44
You may need counseling for your depression
Prayer is good for dealing with depression. However, doctors are of God, too. If you are depressed, and you are suffering physical symptoms, or "fading in and out of reality," get counsel. See a Medical Doctor NOW! Physical problems can cause or aggravate depression. The reverse is also true. That is, depression can cause or aggravate physical problems. Examples of physical causes of depression include but are not limited to the following... Blood sugar imbalances Heart problems Other chemical and hormonal imbalances in the physical system Tumors, diseases Abuse of drugs and medications NOTE: Alcohol is a depressant!!! Alcohol WILL make your depression worse, not better.		Without counsel, plans go awry, but in the multitude of counselors they are established. Prov 15.22

If you feel deserted by God...
For if we would judge ourselves (for our sins), we would not be judged (by God). But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world. 1 Cor 11.31-32 But your iniquities have separated you from your God; and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear. Isa 59.2 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction. Prov 1.7 If we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1.9		If you feel deserted by God, then you need to do a check-up on your spiritual health. FACT -- God will judge and chastise a Christian who is involved in persistent sin. FACT -- Sin in your life will severely disrupt your fellowship with God. Accordingly, the first thing to do when trouble comes is to THINK... Have your sins brought about God's discipline? Have your sins erected a wall between you and your God? If so, then you had better wake up and FEAR God! (Prov 1.7) If you continue in sin, you are literally ASKING God to chastise you. Read Psalm 38 and fear, I say FEAR, your heavenly Father! Yes, God loves you. It is because of God's love for you that He will not -- absolutely NOT -- allow you to have any joy in your sinful state. Get right with God! If you have a sin problem, fear God and stop sinning! Confess your sin to God. Get God's forgiveness and cleansing. (1 John 1.9)
A side issue
Some folks say that all trouble is caused by personal sin. NOT TRUE! (John 9.1-3) But yes, messing around with sin and demons can make you sick, or dead, or both. (Lk 13.11)		Now as Jesus passed by, He saw a man who was blind from birth. And His disciples asked Him, saying, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?'' Jesus answered, "Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him. John 9.1-3 A woman was there who had been crippled by a spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not straighten up at all. Lk 13.11

If you feel hopeless...
And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive. Mt 21.22 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. Heb 11.6		There is one main reason why Christians sometimes lose hope. That reason can best be explained by using an analogy... Let's say that PRAYER is like a telephone call you make to God. HOPE is like God's voice answering the phone and saying, "Don't fret, dear child. I love you. I will help you." But there is an essential third part to this analogy. There must be a WIRE that connects between your telephone and God's telephone. FAITH is the wire that connects you to God. Without faith in God, your prayer phone is simply... disconnected. God's message of hope is not getting through to you.