Heather Davis, Contributing Writer
Lazy Day Ranch
DEPRESSED–sad and gloomy; dejected; downcast
DEPRESSION–a condition of general emotional dejection and withdrawal;
sadness greater and more prolonged than that warranted by any objective reason.
I have only been on this journey of widowhood for eight months now. I’m encouraged by the Psalms, which are an incredible gift in that they show us all sides of our emotions. In the Psalms I find that it is okay to be depressed…it is a part of grief. To be downcast and sad is a part of the human emotion that God created.
We are not dealing with depression here. Our sadness is not prolonged or too great….instead our sadness is God-ordained. It is right on time. It is valuable as it refines us and cleans our heart. The tears are therapeutic as is the Word of God. I wish we did not have to suffer, but there is a comfort in being counted among those who have suffered.
Dealing with Depression
1. Exercise: it helps balance the chemicals in the body
2. Cut out sugar–not only is it a great way to lose weight, but living without processed foods and sugar can alleviate the mood swings and keep you grounded.
3. Get out into the sunshine: all that vitamin D is really good for you!
4. Try Herbal tonics and Essential oils: I used to think these were for the flower children of the ’60s. Was I wrong! These natural elements that God gave us are incredibly helpful in such matters. We take a stress and tension tonic and Lemon essential oils (among others) are amazing mood lifters.
5. Drink lots and lots of water: it cleans out the impurities in your body.
6. Deep breathing…try it!
7. Most important: memorizing God’s Word. II Corinthians 10:5 says, “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”
8. Pray the Word: I ask the Lord to take away my anxious thoughts and then name off all the things I am thankful for (as we are told to do in Philippians 4:4-7). Then I lay out my specific requests that are causing anxiety. I also thank the Lord ahead of time for the peace that He promises me when I obey Him.
Encouraging Scriptures for the path of suffering:
James 1:2-4: Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
Philippians 4:4-7: Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!
Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand.
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
