Overcoming Depression

But Not Out

DOWN

Running on Empty

• Everyone is susceptible to depression

• One in five people will suffer a major depression in their lives.

• One in 8 teens suffer from depression and only 30% receive treatment.

Running on Empty

• What is Depression?– An illness that involves the body,

emotions, intellect and spirit.– It is more than feeling blue, sad or

down in the dumps for a little while.– It impacts the way a person functions

socially.

Running on Empty

• Depression is NOT– Something to be ashamed of– A character flaw or sign of weakness– Something you can just snap out of– Untreatable– Something that only happens to

unbelievers

Isaiah 50:10

“Who is among you that fears the LORD, that

obeys the voice of His servant, that walks in darkness and has no

light? Let him trust in the name of the LORD and

rely on his God.”

Job 30:16-17

“And now my life ebbs away; days of suffering grip me. Night pierces

my bones; my gnawing pains never rest. ”

Jer.20:14-18

“Cursed be the day I was born! May the day my mother bore me not be blessed! Cursed be the

man who brought my father the news, who made him very glad,

saying, "A child is born to you--a son!“…Why did I ever come out of

the womb to see trouble and sorrow and to end my days in

shame?”

Elijah’s Depression

Major Causes• Loss: 1 Kings 19:2• Stress: 1 Kings 19:3• Ineffective Performance:

1 Kings 19:4• Major life changes• Guilt: True and False

(Ps. 38:1-8)

Elijah’s Depression

Symptoms (Five or more of the following for 2 weeks)

• Inferiority: 1 Kings 19:4• Change in appetite: 1 Kgs. 19:8• Feeling Alone, Isolation:

1 Kings 19:10• Hopelessness, Giving Up:

1 Kings 19:10• Angry: 1 Kings 19:14• Thoughts of death: 1 Kings 19:4

Elijah’s Depression

Symptoms (Five or more of the following for 2 weeks)

• Lack of exercise• Headaches, muscle aches• Low energy• Insomnia or hypersomnia• Restless, irritable, anxious, belligerent• Trouble getting along with people• Poor hygiene• Sloppy appearance• Stops doing what he/she enjoys

Overcome Depression3 Ways to

• That God is Not the Source of Your Pain (1 Kings 19:11-12)

• That God is in Control (1 Kings 19:12)REMEMBER

“You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you. Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD, the LORD, is the Rock eternal.”

-- Isa 26:3-4

Overcome Depression3 Ways to

• That God is Not the Source of Your Pain (1 Kings 19:11-12)

• That God is in Control (1 Kings 19:12)• That God Loves You

– God’s love is wide enough to include everybody– God’s love is long enough to last everyday– God’s love is high enough to cover everything– God’s love is deep enough to be everywhere

REMEMBER

“I pray…that you may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fulness of God.” -- Eph 3:18-19

Overcome Depression3 Ways to

• Guilt with God’s Forgiveness (Ps. 32:3)

• Anger and bitterness by forgiving (Ephesians 4:31-32)

REMOVE

Overcome Depression3 Ways to

• To God by listening to Him daily (Ps. 119:28,50)

• To God by praying to Him daily (1 Thes. 5:18)

• To God’s church (Hebrews 10:25; Gal. 6:2)

RESPOND

Running on Empty?

“Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

-- Rom 15:13