This year has gone quickly. Now it is time to think about closing out the year and doing it well. As we move more closely into the holiday season we look at the statistics of how many people have challenges during this time of year and it reminds us that we must be “good soldiers” and keep our minds focused on the positive things of life, rather than the challenges we face. Our outlook is what is going to allow us to succeed or fail many times. We cannot allow negativity to either enter or rule our existence.
We know that Satan is going to win some battles. With the Spirit’s help, you should take his temptations and victories seriously, but you cannot let setbacks impact your attitude or relationship with God. Don’t let a poor choice impact your love for Christ. Don’t let an isolated incident make you want to give up. The reality is we are all imperfect. After all, Satan and his fallen angels have been at their jobs for thousands of years and, as I’ve said, they’ve learned what works. They’ve used their tricks millions of times with a high percentage of success. You are not alone when you lose the battle with sin.
One consequence of sin is a feeling of isolation from God. Accompanying that isolation are feelings of insecurity, induced by the entity of sin. These feelings are strategically placed in your mind to destroy the Divine relationship by gradually diminishing it. Your feeling of loneliness may cause you to doubt whether you were really adopted into The Kingdom. Every one of us has felt lonely. For some, this darkness seems impenetrable and can turn into hopelessness with seemingly no way out.
America has the highest use of antidepressants of any country in the world. Why is a nation founded on Christian principles so depressed? Why is a nation with access to more resources and technology than any other also the most depressed? Virtually every emerging country’s depression rate is climbing as fast as that of America. Can it be true that such a large segment of the world’s society is depressed?
The answer is Yes, it can. We would like to blame these feelings on our fast-paced, hectic, and stressful schedules, but the fact is that people have experienced feelings like this throughout the ages. Not all sadness, gloominess, or lack of direction comprises clinical depression. Today’s society too quickly turns to medication to get an instant fix for our internal conflict, our rationalization of sin, or our failure to depend on the promises we possess from God.
Depression can come from many angles and exist in many forms. So, our goal must be to better understand why depression is used in Kingdom warfare and the role it plays in the suffering, pressure, and stress we have previously discussed.
Depression may occur from chemical or hormonal imbalances caused by foods and/or eating disorders as well as learned habits which induce emotional trauma experienced by life decisions and circumstances. It can also surface during illness, neglect, and/or abuse. It can play a key role in the suffering phase of some believers. Unbelievers also suffer from this condition, but do not have equal access to Kingdom power to help them cope with it. Depression can be one of the strongest tools used in spiritual refinement or sanctification. It is not a shameful thing to be depressed. It may be the result of sin you have not dealt with in your life or sin inflicted on you by others, the latter being the most difficult to release.
While some believers suffer from depression due to chemical or hormonal imbalances, many suffer because of one or a combination of these reasons: A) a lack of faith; B) non-reliance on 2,000+ Biblical promises; and/or C) a poor relationship with one or all of the members of the Trinity. Most often, it is the latter. The level of intimacy in our relationships with the members of The God Family seems to fade when things do not go the way we expect them to go. As we have learned, our universal process is one which normally includes the unforeseen. When we are blindsided by the unexpected, we get angry and often rebel—and that is when our character needs to be refined. So, the universal process begins another cycle. As we persevere, our character and hope are built. While no period of refinement is fun, you can rest assured that the Holy Spirit will help you emerge victoriously on the other side.
Tomorrow I will focus more on keeping our outlook positive. Just know you are greatly loved and cherished.
Love dad