June 4, 2021
5 Powerful Scriptures to help you overcome depression!
We will all go through difficulties in life whether you are a believer or a nonbeliever, Matthew 5:45. Trials and tribulations have a way of draining you, debilitating you, and if you are not carful they can create emotional strongholds in your life. The fact of the matter is, the Word of God is Powerful and has the ability to give you strength and authority to overcome any overwhelming thoughts and feelings that try to steal your joy. What frequently happens to the majority of us is that we are not spiritually prepared to handle the battles that we face which can have lasting repercussions. As a result of our neglectfulness our adversities lead to feelings of hopelessness, despair, and ultimately depression. The enemy wants nothing more than to take your vulnerability and use it to his advantage. Do not get discouraged there is a way that you fight back and overcome unwanted emotions like depression. The Word of God is your Sword and has the ability to break even the strongest chains that threaten to keep you bound! I have listed 5 Powerful Scriptures that will get you started on the right track to taking your life back!
Isaiah 61:3-“To [console those who mourn in Zion, To give them beauty for ashes, The oil of joy for mourning, The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; That they may be called trees of righteousness, The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.”
When life throws you a curveball and it seems like everything that can go wrong is going wrong, it’s discouraging. It can create undesirable moods of depression, doubt, fear, and despair which can easily affect different areas of your life. This passage is letting us know that during those moments when you feel like all hope is gone, look to the Lord for strength. Begin to praise Him when you feel the weight and heaviness of the negative emotions trying to consume you. When you do that you will feel the unwanted feelings and thoughts begin to lift off of you. The enemy hates it when we give the Lord Jesus Christ all the glory and praise that He deserves. He can’t stand it when we pray and pursue the things of God. The reason for that is because it has the ability to change the entire atmosphere wherever you are. This will shift your undesirable emotions into positive ones breaking the shackles that the enemy is using to keep you bound.
Psalm 30:11-12-“You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; You have put off [my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness, To the end that my glory may sing praise to You and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks to You forever.”
No matter who you are there are going to be times when you feel like you’re stuck in a destructive mindset. When it feels like everything is in complete disarray and no matter what you do, you just cannot seem to find your breakthrough. These particular verses are letting us know that in times of mourning and sorrow the Lord will turn it into gladness and happiness. It doesn’t matter how overpowering the thoughts of depression and misery are, God has the authority to break those negative emotions from having control over you. His Word has the capability to ensure that you find your joy in the midst of even the most afflictive circumstances.
Jeremiah 29:11-“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.”
When you give your life to the Lord Jesus Christ His promise is that He will never leave you nor forsake you, Deuteronomy 31:6. He already has your life planned out regardless of what the situation may look like at the moment. He never said that we would not face tribulation but that He would be by our side when the storms of life knock us down. This verse is letting us know that His plan is to prosper you even in the middle of the most desperate situations. He wants each and every one of us to have peace and a sound mind knowing that no matter what it looks like, God is always going to be right there through every adversity!
Philippians 4:6-7-“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.”
When your world is crumbling apart, the first thing we feel is anxious which can lead to worry and ultimately depression. These powerful verses of scripture let us know that we are not to be worried or restless about anything but instead we are to pray and seek the Lord in every situation good or bad. When we cast all of our cares onto God giving him all of the burdens that we carry, He will then have the ability to give us a calmness that we can’t comprehend. Remember the warfare is always in your mind so as long as you keep your focus on Christ, He will guard your heart and mind preventing those fiery darts from penetrating. That is why reading your Word is so imperative because it allows you to have arsenal ready to fight back when the enemy comes in like a thief ready to kill, steal, and destroy.
Joshua 1:9-“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
A depressive state of mind is one of those sentiments that can be challenging to transform. This verse is going into detail about how we are to approach emotions that overtake us like depression. He has commanded us to be strong and courageous during those periods of suffering and distress and not to be afraid. Why is He telling us this? The reason for this command is because we are to Know beyond a shadow of a doubt that the Lord God is with us wherever we are, during whatever trial that we are facing, and will guide us through every tribulation. His word is very specific Psalm 139:8 states “If I ascend into heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there.” It really doesn’t get any clearer than that!