The Devil Hates Your Guts - Defeating Depression

For those of us who have struggled with depression, we know a few key things...

1) it can hit suddenly
2) its not always linked with an event
3) it can be relentless
4) it can be really embarrassing
5) its not a pity party...although it can definitely lead there fast
6) its painful
7) it causes confusion and stress in our relationships
8) Sometimes its unexplainable

We can connect our battle with depression to a number of things: illness, economic hardship, relationship issues, anxiety and stress, mental disorders, and a million other reasons.

But sometimes it seems to happen fast, out of nowhere, and for no reason at all.

OK yea yea I know what you're thinking "obviously there is a logical, chemical, or emotional reason for it happening!" ...and I agree with you, but when you are in the depression zone those reasons don't amount to enough of an explanation. Just think about it. The last time you were really down in the dumps did you say to yourself "Oh this is just a chemical imbalance and in a day or two my body will naturally readjust its hormone levels and I will be just fine."???

We want more understanding than that.

We want to know our enemy...
where he comes from...
and how to defeat him.

And then comes the preparation for battle. How do you prepare for battle when you don't know what kind of battle it is? Will it be with fire?  How big is this giant? Does he have armor?
Because depression really does seem like a giant hovering over us and weighing us down. Its oppressive, annoying, and extremely inconvenient. So, when the battle is at hand, what do you do?

When the war is on...
1) Pray...especially because you don't feel like it
The Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words.
(Romans 8:26)

2) Remember who you are in Christ...and not without Him
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? ... in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. (Romans 8:35-37)

And because we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, “Abba, Father." Now you are no longer a slave but God’s own child. And since you are his child, God has made you his heir.(Galatians 4:6-7)



3) Recognize the devil's tactics....Because he hates your guts
Loneliness, Doubt, Worry, Stress, Fear, Selfishness, Jealousy, Denial, Manipulation, Shame
Satan will not outsmart us. For we are familiar with his evil schemes. (2 Corinthians 2:11)

4) Don't self medicate...but take some time to Refocus
Being numb while the battle is on won't help
Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls about like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. But resist him, be firm in your faith, (1 Peter 5:8-9)

Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things.(Philippians 4:8)

5) Encourage, Serve,  Hug Somebody...other than yourself
Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
(Hebrews 10:23-25)

Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. (Ecclesiastes 4:9)