Tag: depression

Markethive

Does God Care About Your Depression?

You are not alone.

Written by Emilia Alza on 02/07/2019

Series: Weekly Devotional

Tags: Anxiety, Depression, Suffering

The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.

Psalm 34:18

I’m sure we’ve never met before, but I wish I could take you to my favorite coffee shop. As we drank a cup of coffee together and talked, you would know that I’m not here to shame you but to help you get out of the place of bondage that I’ve found myself in before. Depression and anxiety are complex issues, and we need to address them with the same love that Jesus embraces us with each and every day. (Psalm 34:18)

You see, about four years ago, I was in a dark place. Depression and anxiety had taken up every space of my life, and it was destroying me from the inside and out. Even with professional help, the support from family and friends — and praying more than ever before — I still struggled. 

It felt that I was losing the battle. But I saw God’s grace and redemption (which had been there all along!) when I took my eyes off of my myself, my feelings and circumstances and set them back upon Jesus. (Psalm 34:8-10) 

What does the Bible say about depression?

In the Bible, there are many stories that remind us that we are not alone when depression and anxiety come knocking on our door. Let’s take David for example, the king of Israel, a biblical hero, author of many Psalms…one would think he had it together, right? Far from it! In many of the Psalms he wrote, he expressed anguish, grief, loneliness, fear and guilt: 

“For my iniquities have gone over my head; like a heavy burden, they are too heavy for me.” (Psalm 38:4)

“Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.” (Psalm 42:11)

Even Jesus himself faced anguish over what lay before Him. He knew what God had called to a journey of suffering so that we could be truly free. In Isaiah, it was prophesied that Jesus would be “despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain.” (Isaiah 53:3) 

Did you get that? Even the Savior of all mankind faced suffering when He was on this earth. To put it in simpler terms, Jesus understands our weaknesses, suffering, depression and despair because “The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” (Psalm 34:18). He faced the same circumstances we are all going through when He was on earth, yet without sin. 

So take courage, my friend!

I don’t know your brokenness. Maybe you cry yourself to sleep every night, or maybe you mask your depression with fake smiles, and so the whole world thinks you’re the happiest person on earth. Today, I want you to hold onto this truth: 

He listens, He cares, He loves you, He has compassion, He offers mercy, He brings hope, and His character will never change, because He is “the same yesterday and today and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8) 

So, when you’re in the midst of depression, cling to His promises and endure, because Jesus has already walked before you and has felt your suffering, “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world, you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33) 

Your sister in Christ and friend, 

Emilia

Pray this week:

“Lord, I give you my suffering, take what’s broken and make me new. Today, I choose to rely on your promises. Please help me take my eyes off of me and set them back to You.” Amen. 

It’s no coincidence that you are here today. God wants to have a relationship with you regardless of your past or present decisions. Are you ready to answer His calling?

 

Alan Zibluk Markethive Founding Member

Markethive

Why Suicide is Not an Option

Why suicide is the ultimate denial to God

Written by GodLife on 16/08/2016
Series: Weekly Devotional
Tags: Betrayal, Depression, Failure, Hope, Purpose, Suicide
Then Judas threw the silver coins down in the Temple and went out and hanged himself.

Matthew 27:5
Life can sometimes feel hopeless. Maybe you are going through the death of a loved one, a permanent disability, failure or betrayal. You’re not alone.

Do not choose Judas’ path of ending his own life with suicide. Instead, read on to see how some of God’s people have responded to these feelings rather than suicide:

1.Betrayal: David
David, the “man after God’s own heart,” was running away from King Saul, whom he had served. He fled to Israel’s enemies and they betrayed him, taking his family captive. Even David’s trusted followers began to turn on him: “David, too, was in anguish. Some of his men talked about stoning him because they were so bitter about their families being taken.” Who else was left at this point? “But David took comfort in the Eternal One, his True God” (1 Samuel 30:6). With God, David had stood against impossible odds before. (See 1 Samuel 17)

2. Loss: Job
Because of the devil’s attack, Job lost everything: his riches, his family… even his health. “Why does God let me live when life is miserable and so bitter? I keep longing for death more than I would seek a valuable treasure. Nothing could make me happier than to be in the grave.” (Job 3:20-22). It’s hard to imagine Job’s suffering. But he came to realize how unwise these words had been: “I have said things that I did not understand, things too great for me, which I did not know.” (Job 42:3)

3. Hopelessness: Paul
Paul was the fearless missionary (Acts 21:13) who sang in prison (Acts 16:25) and wrote part of the New Testament. He once admitted, “We were crushed and overwhelmed beyond our ability to endure, and we thought we would never live through it” (2 Corinthians 1:8).

More understanding may not change how you feel, but don’t trust your emotions. For a child of God, life is never hopeless. How can you really say you trust God with your eternity if you don't trust Him now? All of these men suffered greatly, but God had a greater plan for their lives on earth which they fulfilled. Please read 2 Corinthians 4:1 through 6:1. This is where Paul reveals this plan, and how it includes you

Pray this week:
Oh, God, I may be hurting so much right now, but I commit to trusting you no matter what. Your love for me is so great that you suffered worse for me. You have total knowledge and power. Your plan for my life is bigger than what I am going through, so I believe you will bring me through it.

Please reach out to us immediately, by responding to this message, if you need help now! Depression is serious but we have someone who will be happy to pray with you and can offer help.

Alan Zibluk Markethive Founding Member

Markethive

What Are You Running From?

If God has shown us bad times ahead, it’s enough for me that He knows about them.

 

Written by Abide on 29/05/2018

Series: Weekly Devotional

Tags: Contentment, Depression, Jesus

Answer me quickly, O LORD! My spirit fails! Hide not your face from me, lest I be like those who go down to the pit.

 

Psalm 143:7

By Julie Thomas

 

My season of hopelessness began about six years ago. Quivering, gasping for breath, I felt the tingle from the cold night air against the sweat on my brow and the chill of the stone pavement beneath my bare feet. The stirring from the raging thoughts in my mind was coming to a calm. I had to stop running as my mind steered back to the reality of where I stood.  

    

The reflection from the street lamp at the base of which I stopped was bright enough for me to see most of my surroundings — enough to realize that I was alone and that it was sometime during the night hours. Soon enough, a passing cold draft also brought me to the realization that I did all that running without the needed clothing to keep the cold out.

 

I stopped long enough to recover my breath and turned around to retrace my steps. Retracing footsteps seemed simpler than retracing the mind’s steps. Retracing footsteps meant I would just have to run those steps back, albeit barefoot. The mind’s steps — those would hurt more than the cold, coarse sidewalk grazing against the soles of my feet. Muffled memory pulled me home, where I remembered leaving two babies and a husband, following a mental and emotional breakdown on my part. I have yet to recall what triggered the outburst. All I am able to recall is the harrowing fear that led the way for my sprinting out the door and into the night.  

 

I ran as fast as I could and as hard as I could. What was I running from? I did not know. My mind was not able to cooperate with the backdrop of my home and my family. Everything at home had begun to increasingly overwhelm my mind. I know today that the running was a means of escape from whatever was causing anguish to my mind. When my family found me and took me home, the anguish trailed home with me.

 

How long have you been running? The anguish and exhaustion from the running, has it ceased? Perhaps it hasn't. This was true for me during my spar with depression.  Running failed to get rid of the pain. The only one exhausted was me. … It was intensely painful to live inside of myself — with the depression. Can you relate to this feeling? Depression can do that to you. But know that no pain is without the knowledge of God. He hears. He sees. Just like He heard the many cries of anguish of King David in the Psalms.

 

Pray this week:

Do you have pain within you that seems unbearable? Join me in this prayer inspired by Psalm 143:4, 7     

 

Lord, depression has agonized me for a long time. It seems like there is no end in sight. Still…I believe that I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. I will walk in restoration. I will attain spiritual and moral resurrection that lifts me out from the depression. I release every hurt and every pain to you Lord! I embrace the fullness of Christ. I receive your healing Lord!    

 

Journal two words today: One that describes your emotions before spending time with God and another after you spend time with Him. Hold on to His hope as you breathe.

 

Are you battling depression? Do you have pain within you that seems unbearable?

Alan Zibluk Markethive Founding Member