Pastor Wayne Cordeiro
November 2, 2003 - W0344

We all feel depressed from time to time and itís not easy to deal with. Feelings of abandonment, betrayal or an illness can take its toll mentally and emotionally. Everyone is susceptible male or female, Christians or non-Christians. In fact, the Bible tells of us such who have gone through depression. This is what Moses said to God in his moment of despair: ìI alone am not able to carry all this people, because it is too burdensome for me. So if You are going to deal thus with me, please kill me at onceÖî  

(Num. 11:14-15)

Job, Elijah, King David and many others cried out to God. Even Jesus got depressed in the garden of Gethsemane where He was in deep despair. King David wrote, ìSave me, O God, for the waters have come up to my neck. I sink in the miry depths where there is no foothold. I have come into the deep water; the floods engulf me. I am worn out calling for help; my throat is parched. My eyes fall, looking for my God.î (Ps. 69:1-3) So with this, we know thatÖ.

?        DEPRESSION IS NO RESPECTOR OF PERSONS.

Understanding what causes depression is the first step. Then as we learn biblical directives, hope and healing follow. One thing I want you to know that I am not a medical doctor giving you some medical diagnosis. However, I did have an interview with Doctor Brian Misaka, a Christian Psychologist of the Meier Clinic of Hawaii. Some questions I asked were: Are more people susceptible to depression and what are some of the causes? Dr. Misaka gave an illustration of depression and has provided four possible causes to depression.  And this is what Dr. Misaka shared with us.

                                             POSSIBLE CAUSES

Depression is like pouring melted butter down the drain of your kitchen sink and chasing it with cold water. Eventually the sink will not flow or function very well. Instead it becomes clogged. The same is true with depression. We get mentally and emotionally clogged up thus, making it difficult to see and think straight. We may either gain weight if our tendency is to eat when stressed. Or weíll lose weight if we deprive ourselves of food. In severe depression, suicide is a possibility.  So what are the possible causes for depression?  The first is a sense ofÖ

?        GREAT LOSS.

There may be a significant loss in life mainly those from childhood. A classic case would be a person living in an abusive family or a family with alcoholism. Usually there is negativity, rejection and hurtful criticism. This in turn sets the stage for someone to be depressed during childhood and later in life. Another loss could also be a physical loss like loosing a spouse or a family member. Still another kind of loss could be loss of wishes, hopes or dreams ñ like a broken expectation. Then the second possible cause of depression isÖ

?        UNRESOLVED ISSUES.

Again, this goes back to childhood. Our parents werenít perfect people and nor were their parents. We donít want to blame anyone, but many of our problems were caused by sin. Whether it is our own sin or people sinning against us - sin causes losses and deaths in life. God says, ìThe wages of sin is death.î(Rom.6:23) 

Now when thereís a death in society, we usually go through a grieving process. However, if we donít grieve, our emotions stay pent up inside us. We become hard and take it out on ourselves. Mentally and emotionally we shutdown and get depressed, just as a clogged sink does. Yet another possible cause may be aÖ

?        CHEMICAL IMBALANCE.

An empty gas tank of a car would best illustrate a person with a chemical imbalance. Our brains react the same way with a neuro-transmitter chemical in our brain called erotonin and epinephrine. The main chemical serotonin is like gas in our brains. If serotonin is low, youíll shut down and exhibit symptoms of depression, which are lack of concentration or motivation and dejection. However, with proper diagnosis, medications are used to increase serotonin levels to help this chemical imbalance.

You may ask: Is it a sin or lack of faith to take medication to increase serotonin? The answer would be the same for example as for someone who is diabetic. We donít humiliate them for taking insulin nor say they lack faith. Their body simply needs insulin to function. The same is true with a person who needs serotonin. The body needs it. Yet unlike insulin, you donít have to stay on it for the rest of your life (except with certain conditions like bi-polar and other conditions thatís more chronic). Usually medication is used to help a person through that period in order for them to work on different issues and resolve them. Thus it allows the body to naturally produce serotonin once again. And finally, the fourth possible cause of depression isÖ

?        PROLONGED FATIGUE

Tiredness can set you up for becoming prone to depression. Weíre never more vulnerable to depression than when fatigued or over-tired. Therefore, taking care of the physical body is just as important as taking care of the spiritual body.

We can begin to understand depression a little better with these four possible causes shared by Dr. Misaka. Now listen to what Jesus said to His disciples when they were weary, ìCome away and rest for awhileî. King David says it this way, ìI waited patiently for the Lord; He heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire.î (Ps. 40:1-2)

Some years ago, I was invited by some friends to do some boogie boarding in Makaha. They said the waves were gnarly! So I went and it really looked nice. However, when I actually went into the surf, it was like playing in a Tsunami! The very first wave I caught picked me up and knocked me down. It was as if I was in a washing machine being agitated over and over again. In a matter of time, I lost my board, my leash, and fins. Iím glad though that my shorts stayed on. While tossed to and fro, like any man of faith -- I cried to God, ìIím going to die!î My perception of which way to surface was off. In a moment of confusion, Iíd lost all sense of direction after being hurled and twisted by powerful waves. As I literally cried out to God, I saw the bubbles from my mouth going into a direction which then made me realize was the way up! Desperately, I quickly swam following my bubbles and reached for surface gasping for air! I then thought, ìAh, I must remember this in the future! Just follow the bubbles!

Isnít this so true in life? We are thrashed by storms, which cause a state of shock. Then confusion and depression set in and we just donít know which way is up. Yet thatís when God hears our cries and has the power to lift our spirits up, give us strength, and a fresh hope in life again. Thatís why God gives us principles or BIBLICAL DIRECTIVES for us to follow.

The Bible has much to say about how to cope and overcome the despair that depression brings. Knowing the possible causes is just as important as knowing the cures. Here are three points of non-negotiable unchangeable principles, which weíll need to know and learn. The first principle in dealing with and overcoming with depression isÖ

1.      CHALLENGE YOURSELF TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT.

When depression hits, the first reaction will be to isolate oneself and bail out on the human race. Rehearsing loss and pain is dangerous because itís self-defeating and it only feeds the depression. The Bible says, the devil comes to steal kill and destroy. Remember this ñ when you are hurt, guilty or in sin, donít let the devil deal with your hurt. Let Jesus deal with it, for He is the only One able to bring healing, hope, and direction into your life. Suffering will change you, but not necessarily for the better, you must choose it. ìWhy are you in despair, O my soul? And why are you disturbed within me? Hope in God, for I shall again praise HimÖî(Ps. 43:5)

Sometimes, youíll need to talk to someone. God will also bring comfort to those who are depressed through others. ìBut God, who comforts the depressed, comforted us by the coming of TitusÖî(2Cor. 7:6) Isolating oneself is a tell tale sign that you need to seek out a Titus. Especially when there are thoughts of taking your life or someone elseís. So find someone whoís trained in the area of counseling and join a care group whoíll support and give Biblical directives.

Depression steals hope for a future and a life. The Lord says, ìI know the plans I have for you.  Theyíre not plans for calamity, but for your welfare that you might have a future and a hope.î (Jer. 29:11) When depression hits, challenge yourself to stop rehearsing the loss. Then seek someone who is able to give biblical counseling and whoíll uplift you with the things of God. 

The Lord is our source of hope and healing. Surrender to the Lord instead of falling victim to despair because of someone elseís mistake or betrayal. The scriptures says, ìHope in the God, for I shall again praise Him.î(Ps. 42:5)  Be mindful that whoever calls the shots is usually lord in your life and thus, will rule it.

So remember, in the midst of depression while crying out the God, look for the direction of the bubbles. Then challenge yourself to do what is right, even if you donít want to or feel like it. The next step is toÖ 

2.      DIAL BACK TO YOUR ETERNAL ASSIGNMENT /ORIGINAL CALL.

ìListen to me, you who pursue righteousness, who seek the Lord: Look to the rock from which you were hewn, and to the quarry from which you were dug.î (Is. 51:1) In other words, find out what your original calling is. If you donít, depression will steal objectivity and youíll loose the big picture.

We learn from the Bible that Paul was pounced on by a storm. Then later on the island of Malta a viper bit Paul but, he shook it off and continued his journey to Rome. How could he have such courage and direction without giving in to depression? Well an angel appeared to him and said: ìPaul take courage, for just like you witness to my cause in Jerusalem, you will do the same thing in Rome.î (Acts 27:23) With this, Paul knew heíd end up in Rome because God told him so! So everything including storms and vipers were secondary. 

After reading this, I wrote in my journal: ìPaul was under divine commission. God told him what his commission was and it gave him a huge amount of courage and the ability to overcomeî. I then wrote, ìWayne you need to know what your divine commission is so when youíre trounced by storms or vipers in life, you can dial back to your eternal assignment. Youíll have confidence to navigate your way out of suffering or the tendency to give upî. So how can weÖ

?        ESTABLISH WHAT THAT IS.

If God were to hold you accountable for certain things that would make up your assignment, what would that be? Remember that in a moment of depression, everything is gone, but your eternal assignment can never be taken away. Sometimes, the Lord will ask: ìWhat did I call you to do in the first place?î

So remember our first call is to be a true genuine man or woman of God before anything else, and be content with that. The second assignment is to be a good husband, wife, father, or mother representing Christ and lead each family member to the throne in such a way that his or her lives reflect this.

You may have read or heard in the news about 13year old Bethany Hamilton in Kauai who got her left arm bitten off by a tiger shark. Sheís an amazing girl and quite a trooper. While in the hospital, she told her friend, Iím glad this happened because now I can tell people about God. And this girl was inline to become a professional surfer! Despite losing an arm, a day later Bethany was willing and ready to start all over again. Therefore, we mustÖ 

?        BE WILLING AND READY TO START THERE ALL OVER AGAIN.

Itís important to remember that your relationship with the Lord will never be taken away even when something else is. Set this principle in your heart ahead of time. We all have to be willing to start over and itís okay when we dial back to our original assignment because this is where weíll end up anyway. When we stand before God in heaven, Heís not going to ask how successful or how much money we made? Heíll ask about our relationship with Jesus and if we were content with it. Heíll ask how we were as a husband, wife, father, or mother. Heíll ask if weíve shepherded those He asked you to. Everything else will be secondary. Take some time to write down your commission because itíll help navigate through times of deep depression. ìThe righteous man falls seven times but rises again.î (Prov.24:16)

Our hope is in Christ alone who challenges us to do what is right and calls us back to our eternal assignment. So be willing and ready to start all over again. And finally, the last principle to help us deal with depression is toÖ 

3.      SEEK GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART !

ìAnd you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heartî (Jer. 29:13) ìÖMy grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weaknessesÖî (2Cor. 12:9)

Sometimes, we donít seek God hard enough. So catch this. When you find that you need God as desperately as you need air, thatís when youíll find Him. Cry out if need be, because only then will you be undistracted and He can then show you His plan. Trust Him and read His promises. There are over 7,000 of them and He is faithful to His Word. So keep in mind that as Christians, we mustÖ

?        LEARN TO LIVE BY PROMISES, NOT BY EXPLANATIONS.

ìI prayed three times for the Lord to take it away, and He didnít.î (2Cor. 12:8) And God didnít give Paul an explanation for the depression or the struggle, but He said this, ìMy grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.î(2Cor. 12:9) Paul didnít receive an explanation, but a promise. So we too should learn to live by promises and not by explanations.

Maybe God doesnít give us explanations because our minds are not able to handle or accept them nor ready to comprehend it. So live by Godís promises. And when you do, you become a man or woman of faith and thatís what transforms you. ìFor by these Heís given His great and magnificent promises that by them youíll be partakers of His divine nature.î (2Pet. 1:4) God is always faithful to His promises. Remember that not one promise of the Lord failed; all has come to pass!

I wish I could give you all the answers, but I cannot. Depression is a difficult complicated issue. Although we run the risk of over-simplifying a very complicated problem, please know that this is not the intention. So I encourage you to set navigational points to get back on track. The main thing is be able challenge yourself to do what is right. Then dial back to your eternal calling and be willing to start there all over again. And finally, seek God with all your heart, because when you do, youíll come through better, not bitter. So when storms hit youíll already know what your eternal destination is because God will flood you with wisdom and a fresh hope for your future. Hope in God, for you shall again praise Him!

Q1)      In your own life, have you allowed the Lord to deal with your losses and issues from childhood? Are you better in coping with depression or does it still rule over in your life? If so, in what ways?

 Q2)     Are you or someone in your group in the midst of a storm or viper? Who and what resources are there to help?

 Q3)     Share a promise from the Word of God that has lifted your spirit and filled you with hope and a future.

 Q4)     Whom has the Lord asked you to shepherd? How are they doing?

 Q5)     What impacted you today and how will you be a better person because of

             it? 

Mahalo to Doreen Rabaino a faithful servant and a woman who truly lives by His promises.