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

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In the previous lesson I shared with you how that the discouragement and the depression I've felt in the past have been the result of my own decisions. I did not suddenly one day discover that I was depressed or discouraged. I got that way by consciously allowing my emotions to control my mind. We also looked at how God has reached out to me during those dark hours to help me realize where I had gone wrong and to help me up and out of the pit in which I had placed myself. In this lesson I'd like to focus our attention on the preventative steps outlined in God's Word which we Christians can take to avoid falling into these emotional traps.

I believe God's Word contains at least three 'secrets' to avoiding discouragement and depression. It contains far more than these three but these are the ones I have been dwelling on ever since becoming disabled and they have definitely helped me. They are: being at peace with God, trusting Him and His Word and exercising self-discipline.

PEACE WITH GOD

It has been my experience that when I am at peace with God I have not gotten discouraged or depressed. That makes sense does it not? It is hard to feel 'down and out' when peace and tranquility rules the emotions. Whereas it is true that I cannot prevent all negative events from taking place in my life I can better resist their negative effects when I am at peace. So let's explore God's Word to learn what this peace with God is and how we can obtain it.

There are really two types of peace we have with God. The first is the peace that is established with God when we accept Christ as our Savior. We could really call this type of peace the 'peace with God.' Paul tells us that we have peace with God because we are made just with Him by faith (Romans 5:1). He explains that through Christ we are reconciled to God from a position of enmity with Him (Romans 5:10). This type of peace is available to every living person and will be theirs at the instant they believe in Christ as the Son of God and put their faith and trust in what He did for them on the cross as their only hope for reconciliation with God.

Then there is the second kind of peace from God that is only given by Him to those of His children who are living by His statutes. We could call this type of peace the 'peace of God.' According to God's Word this type of peace is perfect and beyond man's understanding. The prophet Isaiah said, 'thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee' (Isaiah 26:3). The apostle Paul said, 'the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus' (Philippians 4:7). Jesus told His disciples, and by extension all of His future followers, 'Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid' (John 14:27). The Psalmist states that 'the LORD will give strength unto his people; the LORD will bless his people with peace' (Psalm 29:11).

However, as the prophet Isaiah stipulated, this peace of God is only available to those of His children who are living by His statutes: 'whose mind is stayed on thee' (Isaiah 26:3). King David tells us how to keep our mind stayed on God: 'Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee' (Psalm 119:11). He continues in verse 165 of that same Psalm, 'great peace have they which love thy law.' Solomon said, '...forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments: For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee' (Proverbs 3:1-2).

This is the peace from God which we His children have and which enables us to avoid falling into discouragement and depression. So long as we submit ourselves daily to studying His Word, learning and following His principles of life contained therein we will have this peace. This brings me to the second 'secret' for preventing discouragement and depression. 

FAITH IN GOD AND HIS WORD

In order for us to live by God's statutes and thereby receive His perfect peace we must read, study and obey His Word. It may sound like a no-brainer but to live according to God's principles we must put our faith and trust in God and His Word and not in our ability to discern truth. Solomon warns us to 'trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths' (Proverbs 3:5-6). Listen to Jeremiah's thoughts on our ability to discern truth, 'The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?' (Jeremiah 17:9). He further adds, 'O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps' (Jeremiah 10:23).

So we must put our complete trust in God's Word to tell us what His statutes are and how we are to live by them. When His Word tells us to put Him first in our finances (Malachi 3:10, Proverbs 3:9, 1 Corinthians 16:2) then that is exactly what we will do. When His Word tells us to love God above all and above everyone (Matthew 22:37) then that is what we will do. When it tells us to love others more than self (Matthew 22:39) we will do that as well. When it tells us not to forsake attending church (Hebrews 10:25) then that is also what we will do. So on and so on and so on.

If trusting and obeying God's Word brings peace into our lives then not doing so brings trouble. At the worst it brings God's chastening hand on our lives (Hebrews 12:6). At the best we simply reap what we sow. I personally have gone through difficult times because of not following God's principles. I once bought a brand new vehicle with zero miles knowing full well that I would have to stop tithing to make the payments. That vehicle was constantly breaking down and developing problems that stumped all the mechanics we took it to. After the warranty expired other major malfunctions happened and we were soon in deep debt trying to keep that vehicle working. I finally repented, gave the car up and returned to putting God first in my finances. We set up a budget putting God first and prioritizing all the other expenses and determined how much we could afford each month for a car. We prayed and began looking. We soon found a car that met all our needs and despite having 100,000 miles already on the odometer lasted us 6 long years with nothing more than normal maintenance costs.

I could give you many other personal examples of how I've 'compromised' the peace in my life by not following God's advice. I'm sure you too have had at least one such experience. I can also tell you of the times when I was doing the right thing and despite difficulties had great peace.

Since obeying God's Word is key to maintaining fellowship with Him and enjoying the resulting peace, I must dedicate myself to the study and meditation of His Word. I must set aside time each day when I can devote my attention solely to this task. This involves self-discipline; the third key to avoiding discouragement and depression.

SELF-DISCIPLINE

In order know and apply God's principles to my life I must discipline my self in several areas. I must first set aside time to study His Word. While studying I must make certain that I do not misinterpret or misapply what I read. I must apply what I learn. Finally, I must keep a positive Christ-centered attitude.

I must discipline myself to study God's Word on a daily basis. David said of the blessed man, 'his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night' (Psalm 1:2). Notice in verse 3 of that same Psalm what the benefits are to the blessed man who studies God's Word, 'he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.' Perfect prescription for peace and the prevention of discouragement and depression.

Isaiah said 'Seek ye out of the book of the LORD, and read' (Isaiah 34:16). Luke tells us that the Christians in Berea 'received the word with all readiness and searched the scriptures daily' to verify that what they heard from God's men was in fact truth (Acts 17:11). Peter expounds that we would do 'well' to 'take heed' to God's Word (2 Peter 1:19). Setting aside time each day to read and study God's Word is the way to learn God's principles of living. However, I must also discipline myself to not misinterpret or misapply His Word.

If I am to learn exactly what God set forth in His Word I must avoid putting my own interpretation to what He wrote. Peter reminds us that 'no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation' (2 Peter 1:20). And remember Solomon's warning to not trust our own understanding but to 'trust in the Lord' (Proverbs 3:5).

The best way to learn exactly what God wants us to know is to allow His Word to be its own interpreter. Isaiah says that knowledge and doctrine are learned by learning 'precept upon precept; line upon line' (Isaiah 28:9-10). When we encounter something we do not understand or which seems to be in contradiction with something else in Scripture we must first realize that it is not God's Word which is to blame but our understanding. In cases such as these we just need more study to learn the truth. For a more in depth look at how to properly study God's Word please refer back to the Library section to the book entitled What We Believe And Why, Volume I, by Dr. Lester Hutson, and study chapter 2, How To Study The Word Of God. See also the chapter on Rightly Dividing God's Word, in the book entitled What We Believe And Why, Volume II, by Dr. Lester Hutson.

Once I learn a truth from God's Word I must then discipline myself to apply that truth to my daily life. It must become part of my decision making foundational knowledge. King David said that this was his method for keeping from sinning against God (Psalm 119:11). By applying God's Word to our lives we will avoid making the wrong decisions that many times lead us down the road to discouragement and depression.

One final but important thing I must discipline my self to do is to keep a positive Christ-centered attitude. Isaiah said that those whose mind was stayed on God would have perfect peace (Isaiah 26:3). Paul gives us this God ordained advice, 'Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you' (Philippians 4:8-9). Every waking moment I must keep my mind focused on the positive truths from God's Word and on the positive things in life if I am to avoid discouragement and depression.

SUMMARY:

No one is immune to discouragement or depression. However if you are a child of God you have His promises of help in time of need (Hebrews 4:16) and that we will not be tempted above our capability to resist (1 Corinthians 10:13). Additionally, if we will maintain our fellowship with Christ, properly study and apply God's Word to our lives we will avoid making wrong decisions which can lead to discouragement and depression.

If you are trapped in the pit of depression or if you are discouraged would you please just look to the Lord? Ask Him for His help and then accept the help He offers. If you have strayed in your fellowship with Him do what is necessary to reestablish it. Remember, God wants you to be happy and be at peace despite how difficult your life may be. He wants us to enjoy the peace which only He can give His children: the perfect peace which passeth all understanding. 

NEXT LESSON:

Growing up in a minister's home meant that I was always being told to 'watch my testimony.' I heard such advise as 'don't drink, cuss, smoke, chew or go with girls that do.' I was encouraged to try and live as sinless a life as possible so that others would not have anything to judge me by. I heard many preachers talk about what my testimony was and what it was not. It wasn't until I was an adult and started studying God's Word that I learned in more depth what my testimony was all about. I'd like to share that with you in the next series of lessons entitled 'How's Your Testimony.'

"It Does Make a Difference What You Believe"