What is Depression?

Author: Dr. Robert Keena | Category: Depression

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There are some rare organic malfunctions that may trigger feelings of depression. However, most symptoms and problems defined as depression are actually the consequences of unbiblical habits and/or sinful reactions to circumstances and other people.

Depression may be experienced by anyone and must be dealt with from God's perspective and not from our own perspectives or any other person's philosophy.

To sum it up in a few words: Depression is essentially irresponsibility.

Now don't stop reading this article, because of the above statement, continue reading and understand why I say that.

The Origin of Depression

Genesis 4:3-7 (New Living Translation) When it was time for the harvest, Cain presented some of his crops as a gift to the Lord. Abel also brought a gift—the best of the firstborn lambs from his flock. The Lord accepted Abel and his gift, but he did not accept Cain and his gift. This made Cain very angry, and he looked sad. "Why are you so angry?" the Lord asked Cain. "Why do you look so sad? You will be accepted if you do what is right. But if you refuse to do what is right, then watch out! Sin is crouching at the door, eager to control you. But you must subdue it and be its master."

God commands us by His word not to live by our feelings, but to decide by our will to respond in a manner which is pleasing in His sight. To react to please self is to be mastered by the reactions which is sin.

James 1:22-25 (New Living Translation) But don't just listen to God's word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. For if you listen to the word and don't obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don't forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it.

Depression should never be used as an excuse for you to continue to live in an unbiblical manner. Even if you feel depressed, you are still to live biblically. Your thoughts, words, and actions are always to edify others and bring glory to God instead of just obeying God's word when you "feel like it".

Colossians 3:25 (New Living Translation) But if you do what is wrong, you will be paid back for the wrong you have done. For God has no favorites.

Symptoms defined as "depression" are sometimes brought on by sin which means you are living to please yourself instead of living to please the Lord. If you do not repent, confess your self-centeredness and return to living in a biblical manner, you will experience even further difficulties.

To love life and see good days, you must turn from doing evil and be obedient to God's word. In spite of "feeling" depressed, you can live biblically because of divine resources that God graciously provides for you (Heb. 4:15-16; Rom. 8:11-14).

Being in the spirit by faith you can see your life from God's perspective (Gal. 5:16 ; Rom. 8:2, 15-17). Pursue peace and, run after it, flee from fear, obsession, and immorality (1 Pet. 3:10-12).

Depression = Absence of Love

The way you feel and the way you view yourself, your relationships, and your circumstances are often indications of whether you are living to please yourself or living to please God.

It is not the world or things of the world that should occupy our thoughts and time. Are you approaching life from God's perspective, living and thinking God's word? Fear, darkness, depression reveal an absence of loving God and your neighbor (Matthew 22:36-40).

1 John 4:18-21 (New King James Version) There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. We love Him because He first loved us. If someone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also.

As a Christian, allowing feelings of depression to overtake you are an indication of a lack of love for God and others and a failure to realize how much God loves you.