Have you ever read about the Israelites who God rescued from Egypt? They were a troublesome and unbelieving crowd. With them, something was always wrong. They were constantly in despair and distress because they lacked faith in God. Faith is a believer’s anchor when life becomes a troubled sea.
Just as perfect love casts out fear, faith in God drives out despair. You’ll never see a man in the Bible who had faith and walked in defeat by depression, troubled at times dealing with depression but not defeated. Therefore, doubt works hand in hand with depression. So, you need to pursue faith in God with all your heart. It’s what will sustain you during the tough times. Like Job, you will say confidently, “I know my Redeemer lives!”
Let’s look at the life of a man of faith who never allow hos circumstances depress him. Romans 4:18-21 (ESV) says, “In hope he believed against hope, that he should become the father of many nations, as he had been told, ‘So shall your offspring be.’He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was as good as dead (since he was about a hundred years old), or when he considered the barrenness of Sarah’s womb. No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised.”
Now, understand that it took Abraham twenty-five years to receive God’s promise, yet his faith didn’t fade. He had every reason to give in to despair and become depressed. Instead, Abraham held on to his faith. It was the source of his strength and hope. As long as he had faith, despair was far away from him. It takes belief to fight off the hungry claws of hopelessness. So, you must ask for the grace of Abraham to grow strong in faith.
In her book, “HEALING YOUR DEPRESSION,” Apostle L’Tanya C. Perry, MDiv. said, “On the foundation of Faith in God’s character and dealings with us, much trust can be established. Sometimes it’s necessary to put our Faith to the test. The worst thing is giving up on God because you can’t deal with any problem by giving up God. Actively seek God’s help in developing these qualities in your Life, particularly in areas where you have experienced failure. Do you notice the difference in attitude here? You are seeking God’s grace to accomplish those things that are good and lovely before Him, rather than submitting to defeat and self-pity. When God is on your side, there’s no need to quit because you have the most significant support on your side. At least one of these questions ponders who gives up in a person’s mind. The cornerstone of trust is faith in God’s character and intentions for your life.”
Do you want to learn more about how to overcome depression and live a life full of laughter and fulfillment? Then get this life-transforming book, HEALING YOUR DEPRESSION by Apostle L’Tanya C. Perry, MDiv.