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You know those days when life feels terrible?
Whether it’s a day of depression or an ongoing battle, today’s podcast will give you some ideas of how to cope with depression.
This is part two of my interview with Betty Mullaney, who also struggles with depression. Together we brainstorm ways to deal with it.
To listen on iTunes: click here
In this interview we discuss:
- why it’s important to catch emotions at the early stage to avoid depression.
- how abiding in God (John 15:1-5) and walking in the Spirit (Galatians 5) can help with depression.
- what to do when you’re in the throes of depression.
- what to do if you slip into self-condemnation when you’re depressed.
- how to renew your mind for depression.
- Three questions you can use to renew your mind in any situation.
- the advice Betty’s Christian counselor gave her for depression.
Whether you struggle with ongoing depression or just the occasional day of depression, this podcast will help.
This was a great continuation, Barb. I haven’t really struggled with depression, but I’ve struggled with frustration, anger, anxiety, disappointment, etc. – and all of those emotions are similar in that you want to catch them early. That seems to be the key for so many negative things.
I am reminded of a John Piper sermon I heard on anxiety, which I thought was very instructive. He talks about FIGHTING our anxiety. The same with depression or any other negative emotion – fight it by meditating, by getting to the bottom of it – whether that is through truth journaling or a set of questions as you mention.
That sounds like a great sermon, Loren. Do you happen to remember the name of it? I just googled John Piper sermon on anxiety and found this link to quite a few of his sermons on the topic: http://www.desiringgod.org/sermons/by-topic/fear-anxiety.
That’s the page – all of them are great, particularly “Battling the Unbelief of Anxiety”
Thanks, Loren, I’ll check them out. I’m also looking for good things to listen to.
Just listened to a couple of these, Loren, and really liked them. Thanks for the link. Not sure if I can subscribe to his sermons on Stitcher. I’ll have to check it out.
I was reading in Lamentations 3 today and was thinking about how we must remember God’s past faithfulness. We need to go to Him even when we don’t feel like, even when it feels like He is far from us and our prayers are hitting the ceiling.
There is so many encouraging passages in Lam, Psalms, and Jer that encourage me. There are times when David and Jer faced extremely painful and low times and yet they stayed in God’s face, they kept going to Him and reminded themselves to praise Him even when they didn’t feel like it and eventually God brought them through it.
Today I was reminded that God saved Daniel THROUGH the lions den, not FROM it. He had to go through it. We all have to go through tough times and depression can be one of the most debilitating and crippling times of faith in a Christian. But staying in God’s Word and renewing the mind, even through the dark times will pay off. It is making a difference even when we don’t feel like it is. We don’t always understand the painful trials but that doesn’t mean God is any less God. He is in control, He is good. He is faithful. He does love us even when it doesn’t “feel” like it.
We can trust Him…not because of us, but because of WHO He is. He is faithful. We can depend on Him and tough times will increase that trust.
For years one of my favorite passages is Psalm 119:70-75
It gives me new perspective on my suffering and God’s good intentions in all things concerning me.
I agree about Jeremiah and David. So often in the Psalms you see David start out sounding worried or unhappy but by the end of the Psalm, he’s praising God. I think one of the psalms goes through all God did for the Israelites in the wilderness, if I remember right. It’s a great psalm because it correlates what He does for us.
Also, I love what you said about depression and continuing to renew our minds even when we don’t feel like it’s making a difference. Thanks for your insights!
I’m so thankful the Bible is full of real people with real problems for us to identify with. Gives me hope and inspires me to trust God more.
Yes, I especially love those Old Testament guys since they mess up so often. :)
LOL,
Me too! Except it easy to begin comparing myself and thinking I’m “not that bad” :)
So thankful for God’s grace. Sin is sin even if we (I) like to gloss over certain ones as being “more acceptable”.
Ha, I never thought of going that route! It must be the perfectionist in me. :)
I think we all want to take the easy way out, referencing the counselor’s warning about it being a lot of work, but the best things we ever achieve in life are rarely the things given to us. The best things we get are the things we strive and toil for. In the process we find gratification and wisdom, as designed by our Father.
Truth cards, I like that.
I’m a big fan of the easy way out, much to my detriment! I agree, the best things are often the things we work for. I know I’ve experienced that as well. Change isn’t easy.
Situational depression comes to many and getting out of it is easier verses chronic depression. I must have been in my 50th when I had situational depression and have experienced it a few times since then. Being pro-active with either kind of depression is so important to ones health and for those who are affected by a person depression. Just being able to admit I am depressed helps me, for the speaking of it helps to remind me to look for ways to come out of it. Mental health issue carry a burden physical health issue does not. Yet it affect as many people as some health issues. I appreciate anyone who speak out for the mental health of others, so needed. Always looking for resources to give our missionaries when it comes to mental health, ways to fight mental health and not just give into it and stay in a pit. Bless you for speaking out on this subject.
Thanks, Betty, I hope to do more podcasts on this topic as I think it’s a pretty common struggle. I like what you said about needing to admit that we’re depressed. I think sometimes we don’t even recognize depression when it happens. It helps to think it’s a possibility so we can take the steps necessary to work on it. Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Betty.
I remember talking to you the day you wrote this. Great wisdom as usual. I’m not much of a perfectionist or maybe I am, but I wear out too quickly to keep it up. lol
Thanks, Melanie – unfortunately, I’m totally a perfectionist when it comes to writing, and the funny thing is that those perfectionism questions have been the hardest ones I’ve every written. I don’t know how many times I’ve re-written them. But they’re working – I’m becoming less of a perfectionist. Can’t wait until I’m not one at all. :)