Have you ever felt depressed? Or so sad that you did not want to get out of bed in the morning?
You feared people seeing the pain within you, so you put on a fake smile to avoid exposing the depression, and when someone asked you how you were doing you said “I’m good,” denying the grief.
I have been there before, and I know you have too.
Maybe you tried alcohol to escape the pain, but it didn’t work. Or you tried smoking marijuana, cigarettes or vaping to numb the pain, only to feel sorrows sting hours later. Some have chased relationships or sex to feel ‘good’, ‘happy’ or ‘loved’, only to be disappointed after it all. A large percentage of people have taken anti-depressant medication, and yet, it doesn’t seem to solve the root problem.
That’s because the best ‘antidepressant’ is the Word of God.
Proverbs 4:20-22 in the Message translation says, “Dear friend, listen well to my words; tune your ears to my voice. Keep my message in plain view at all times. Concentrate! Learn it by heart! Those who discover these words live, really live; body and soul, they’re bursting with health.”
The Word of God is medicine to one’s entire being; spirit (heart), soul (mind, emotions, feelings, will, and intellect), and body.
The positive thing about God’s Word is that it does not operate as this world’s pharmaceutical system which has negative side effects for each medication.
God’s Word has NO negative side effects. And God’s Word WORKS!
Jeremiah 1:12 reveals this, “You have observed correctly”, said the LORD, “for I am watching over My word to perform it.”
God’s Word is His will and He wills that you be in health spirit (heart), soul (emotionally, mentally) and body (physically).
How do I know that God wants you to be healthy spiritually?
Ephesians 2:1-4, “And His fullness fills you, even though you were once like corpses, dead in your sins and offenses. It wasn’t that long ago that you lived in the religion, customs, and values of this world, obeying the dark ruler of the earthly realm who fills the atmosphere with his authority and works diligently in the hearts of those who are disobedient to the truth of God. The corruption that was in us from birth was expressed through the deeds and desires of our flesh. We lived by whatever natural cravings and thoughts our minds dictated, living as rebellious children subject to God’s wrath like everyone else. But God still loved us with such great love. He is so rich in compassion and mercy. Even when we were dead and doomed in our many sins, He united us into the very life of Christ and saved us by His wonderful grace!”
All humanity is spiritually dead apart from faith in Jesus Christ. To be spiritually dead means to be separated from God. God created us to be in spiritual union with Him but, for us to be in spiritual union with God, who is life, there cannot be any death within us.
Death is the by-product of sin.
Life is the by-product of God.
God and sin do not mix, they are like oil and water. Just as there's no union between oil and water, there can be no union between God and sin. That is why when Adam and Eve (God’s first creations) sinned, they were separated from God because they spiritually died.
This was not God’s will, rather Adam and Eve’s will, because they chose death (separation from life - which is God) by choosing to sin.
God did not want to be separated from His creations for all of eternity, that is why He made a way for us to be spiritually alive again. The only way that we could be reunited to God and spiritually alive again was if God came into the earth 100% as a human being and 100% as God, never sin, and then innocently become spiritually dead (separated from Himself).
How could God be separated from Himself? Jesus.
Jesus is God. As 2 Corinthians 5:21 says, “God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.”
Jesus spiritually died by becoming your sin.
Isaiah 53:10, “Yet it was the LORD’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the LORD makes His life an offering for sin, He will see His offspring and prolong His days, and the will of the LORD will prosper in His hand.”
The phrase “His offspring” in this scripture is referring to you. God desires for you to be spiritually reborn as His son or daughter, thus becoming His offspring; He wants you to be His own. If you would like to be spiritually alive and God's son or daughter, say this prayer out loud:
“Heavenly Father, I believe in my heart Jesus Christ is Your Son. I believe Jesus died for my sins. God, I’m sorry for all my sins and I ask you to forgive me. I believe that You raised Jesus from the dead and I say with my mouth Jesus is my Lord and Savior. Now I am saved, I have chosen life and I am Heaven bound. In the name of Jesus, Amen.”
Now that you are spiritually healthy, God wants you to be healthy, emotionally, and mentally.
How do I know this?
Mark 5:5-20 records a story of a demon-possessed man that Jesus came into contact with. Verse three through five says, “This man lived in the burial caves and could no longer be restrained, even with a chain. Whenever he was put into chains and shackles—as he often was—he snapped the chains from his wrists and smashed the shackles. No one was strong enough to subdue him. Day and night he wandered among the burial caves and in the hills, howling and cutting himself with sharp stones.”
This man’s suicidal attempts of self-harm clearly reveal that he was not healthy emotionally and mentally, but Jesus willed for him to be free from the torment of demons, healed emotionally, and healthy mentally.
Demons are agents of Satan. John 10:10 says, “The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy.”
Satan’s opponent is humanity. He fulfills his purpose of stealing, killing, and destroying God's creations through his team of demons and fallen angels. Satan’s Kingdom of Darkness is full of demons stealing humanity’s joy, peace, and life. Demons kill and destroy people through spiritual, mental, and physical illness, disease, and oppression.
Depression comes from the Kingdom of Darkness, but Romans 14:17 reveals what comes from the Kingdom of Light, “For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.” God’s nature is life, therefore in His Kingdom is peace, joy, and love.
The latter half of John 10:10 reveals the purpose of the Kingdom of Light too, “Jesus’ purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.”
Jesus gave the man in Mark 5 a rich and satisfying life.
Through Jesus’ words, the demons were cast out of the man and he was healed, whole emotionally, and healthy mentally.
Verse 15 says, “A crowd soon gathered around Jesus, and they saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons. He was sitting there fully clothed and perfectly sane, and they were all afraid.”
Because of the power and authority of Jesus’ words, this man was set free from demonic possession and oppression.
Hallelujah! It is God's will for YOU to be healthy mentally and emotionally too!
If you would like to be healthy, emotionally, and physically, say this prayer out loud:
"Jesus you are The spiritual, mental, emotional, and physical Healer. I believe that you hold all power and authority over the devil, demons, fallen angels, and all the Kingdom of Darkness. I believe that the Kingdom of Light brings me peace, joy, and love. Jesus, I believe that it is your will to bring me peace, joy, and love. I rebuke every demonic spirit and influence over my mind in the name of Jesus. I rebuke the evil spirit of depression, anxiety, fear, suicide, and mental illness. The only Spirit that I allow to influence my mind is the Holy Spirit and He produces God’s love, peace, life, and joy in my heart and mind. Thank you, Jesus, for making me mentally and emotionally sane, stable, and balanced. I have the mind of Christ, in Jesus name. Amen.”
Hallelujah!
Finally, how do I know that God wants you to be healthy physically?
Matthew 8:1-3, “When Jesus came down from the mountainside, large crowds followed him. A man with leprosy came and knelt before him and said, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean. Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” Immediately he was cleansed of his leprosy.”
This man had a physical disease called leprosy and he asked Jesus if it would be His will to make him physically healed. He says, "I am willing" but one translation of the Bible records Jesus’ response as, “Of course I am!”
Hallelujah! It is Jesus’ will for you to be physically well!
But it doesn’t stop there, He has the power to heal this man and He hasn’t changed since.
Hebrews 13:8 says, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.”
It is STILL God's will for you to be well physically!
God's will, desires, and plans for our spirit (heart), soul (emotions, mind, feelings, will, and intellect), and body are revealed through Jesus! Spiritual, emotional, mental, and physical health is restored to humanity through the life of Christ!
Jesus had to restore the Father’s will of spirit, soul, and body health because spiritual, emotional, mental, and physical death was the result of the fall of man.
Depression is a result of the fall of man in Genesis 3, but the good news is that depression has been overcome over 2,000 years ago because of the resurrection of One man, Jesus Christ!
Isaiah 61:3 was a prophecy of the fatality of depression! "As for those who grieve over Zion, God has sent me to give them a beautiful crown in exchange for ashes, to anoint them with gladness instead of sorrow, to wrap them in victory, joy, and praise instead of depression and sadness. People will call them magnificent, like great towering trees standing for what is right. They stand to the glory of the Eternal who planted them."
Jesus exchanges death for life. He wraps you in victory, joy, and praise instead of depression and sadness!