10250 North Freeway @ West Road
Houston, Texas 77037
Tel: (281) 447-8484
Pastor: Dr. Lester Hutson

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In this lesson I'd like to focus on my experience on this subject. As I've stated before I cannot speak to you from either a clinical or a psychiatric point of view because I am not qualified to do so. However, I can tell you how I have gone from doing just fine to being discouraged or depressed: from sunny skies to overcast and dark. I can also relate to you how God has helped me escape the clutches of depression and restored my joy.

Before we begin this lesson though, I'd like to do a quick review. The purpose of this series is to show you from God's Word that He can help you and me out of the mental and emotional abyss we sometimes find ourselves in. We also want to show what you and I must do in order to obtain God's help.

First we must ascertain whether or not we are a child of God because His help is extended only to His children. We studied that we are not born a child of God but become one immediately upon salvation: believing that Christ is the Son of God (John 3:36) and placing our faith in what He did for us on the cross as our only hope for salvation (John 3:16, Galatians 3:26).

Next we must make sure that there is nothing in our lives that would cause God's hand of discipline to be upon us (Hebrews 12:6). We learned that our fellowship with God is based on our being obedient to His Word (John 15:14). This obedience includes being a faithful, fruitful, and active member of one of His churches. We know from Christ's ministry that He started the first church (Mark 3:13-19, Luke 6:12-16) and that He commanded that first church to reproduce itself until His return (Matthew 28:18-20). His Word tells us that God gets the glory for what is done through one of His churches (Ephesians 3:21). It tells us that we will be rewarded for what we have done for Him through one of His churches (I Corinthians 3). Finally, Paul tells us to not forsake attending one of His churches (Hebrews 10:25). So to get into fellowship with the Lord we must live by His Word and be a faithful, supporting member of one of His churches.

The point about fellowship is that when we are obeying God's Word, living each day for Him and being a faithful, active part of one of His churches, His sustaining help is upon us. He blesses what we do and works in our lives to keep us in 'perfect peace' (Isaiah 26:3). However, when we take our eyes off of Him, when we stop attending church, when we stop talking and walking with Him on a daily basis we become stranded in a position in which He cannot bless us and where His hand of discipline may have to be extended towards us. Coming under God's discipline can very easily cause me to become discouraged and if I indulge my feelings I could even sink into depression. So maintaining daily fellowship with Him is of utmost importance if we are to keep from becoming depressed or discouraged in the first place.

At this point I would like to share with you the mental and emotional phases I've gone through on my way into and out of depression. They say that knowing your enemy is of great advantage in conquering or at least in defending against him and certainly no one would disagree that these two emotional conditions are our enemies.

If I were to compare my experiences with discouragement or depression to a staircase leading down into a dark pit the first tread would be made up of a negative event. I've never become discouraged as a result of a positive experience. In some cases I was at fault and in the others no one was at fault.

Actually, getting to that first tread is inevitable. Jesus said that 'in the world ye shall have tribulation' (John 16:33).   Paul told Timothy that 'all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution' (2 Timothy 3:12). Certainly our archenemy Satan does all he can to get us on that first step. He doesn't want us to be a positive testimony for our Lord, to bring souls to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ or to help others live Godly lives. He wants us to be defeated, negative, inward thinking, loners and the poorest examples of Christians he can help us become.

The second tread on this downward angling staircase is made up of a negative choice on my part. Unlike the event which put me on the first step getting to this second step was always avoidable and always the result of a conscious decision on my part. If while on that first step I allowed myself to dwell on the event which put me there I would inevitably take that next step down. My thoughts would turn inward and discouragement or bitterness would set in. If I allowed myself to remain on that second step I would start to let my daily Bible study slip and would begin to avoid being with others. I ignore the warnings God brings to my attention through the ministry of those around me or through His Word and I skip some church services. These negative actions would further increase my self-focus and if I did not turn my thoughts around I would quickly drop to the third step.

This third step is where I completely stop reading my Bible, attending church and become more reclusive. I become more sullen and withdrawn and even allow suicidal thoughts to creep in. Now I'm so far gone into my self-indulgent world that I totally ignore others and their attempts to help. I don't want help. I spend very little time on this step because I usually fall to the next level, which is the basement.

The bottom of this staircase is a pit of negativism and total withdrawal. I avoid everyone. I hate the sunshine and cheerful people. I avoid any encouraging or motivational influences. I forget where my Bible is and try to hide from God. I may perform my responsibilities but I will not do them with conviction, heart or enthusiasm. My thoughts continually run towards ending it all.

Now let's just analyze this situation for a minute. Is it okay for me to be in that basement thinking of suicide and trying to hide from God? Is it okay that I'm not trying to serve Him Who died for me and Who loves me? Is it okay for me to ignore the needs of the lost and indulge myself in these selfish thoughts and feelings? Am I closer to God or the Devil in that basement? Who is getting the glory or who is winning the fight while I'm down there: God or Satan?

I have to admit that for me to be in that pit I have to take my eyes off the Lord. I must stop fellowshipping with Him in order for these negative feelings to fester. I must avoid my brothers and sisters in Christ who could encourage me. I must detach myself from God as much as I possibly can in order to get to and stay in that basement.

Do you know what I'm doing in that place? I am sinning. I am giving in to the temptation of self-indulgence. I am not keeping my body in subjection (1 Corinthians 9:27). I am not submitting my body a living sacrifice to God (Romans 12:1). I am not bringing honor and glory to God. I am living in sin.

But thank God for His love, for His longsuffering and for His mercy. Thank God he 'hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities' (Psalms 103:10). Thank God I can say with David, 'whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me' (Psalms 139:7-10). Thank God that He will never leave nor forsake me (Hebrews 13:5).

Yes my Christian brother or sister, even though my depression or discouragement is my doing, the result of the sin of self-indulgence, God always finds a way to reach me and help me back up. And He sends it through a source that has no idea what I'm going through. He knows I'm avoiding those who know I'm discouraged or depressed. He knows exactly how to reach me in the manner to which I'll respond positively. He doesn't chastise me when I'm down there. He spreads His arms of love and support around me. He brings someone one to my door, a card or letter to my mail box; somehow He finds a way to remind me of His love for me. This is the help God gives His children. He reaches to them with just the right method, just the right person, just the right means to touch our hearts and bring us back to Him.

However, just as taking the first step down was my choosing so taking the first step up out of that basement is also mine to make. God does not make me do anything. I'm neither a robot nor a puppet to be manipulated. He wants me to serve Him out of love and not out of fear or duty so He provides me with the choices and leaves the decision solely up to me. My first step up therefore, must be to confess my sin to Him so that I can receive His forgiveness (I John 1:9) so that my fellowship with Him is restored. Then I can say with the Psalmist, 'He restoreth my soul' (Psalm 23:3).

Once I have taken that first step of confession the Lord immediately helps me quickly climb all the steps up out of that basement. My focus shifts from self to God and His Word and doing what is right and the healing process takes place. He pours out encouragement from His Word because I am once again exposing my self to it.  He restores me back to a positive and Christ centered position.

Brother or Sister, if you are discouraged or depressed would you just take a moment and realize that God is right there beside you? Would you be receptive to His attempts to reach you? You don't have to remain discouraged or depressed. Take that first step and accept His help.

I know that I've painted the picture of depression with broad brush strokes. But we could spend years talking about all the problems, circumstances and emotions we each have gone through which started us on the downward staircase to depression. However, I know that if you are one of God's children He is trying to reach you with His message of love and forgiveness. Please don't put off any longer getting your heart right with Him and allowing Him to heal your soul and restore your joy.

SUMMARY:

It has been my experience that getting discouraged or depressed was the result of allowing myself to dwell on a negative experience. The longer I indulged my feelings the lower I would sink until I was finally at a point where I was completely out of fellowship with the Lord and those here on earth who cared most for me. But thanks be to God that He always reached out to me in love in just the right way giving me an opportunity to ask His forgiveness so that He could restore my fellowship with Him and thereby bring back the joy of my salvation.

NEXT LESSON:

Staying in fellowship with the Lord and avoiding discouragement or depression involves self-discipline. We must daily surrender our minds, wills and emotions to Him (Romans 12:1). We must also keep our minds focused on His Word and the positive rather than the negative. In the next lesson we will look at a few of the more prominent positive aspects of our Christian life on which we can keep focused.

"It Does Make a Difference What You Believe"