FreeInChrist
Active Member
When one knows the reason .
And one really has no reason other then self pity?
And one really has no reason other then self pity?
Opinion question.~ Is falling into a depression a sin?
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civic
Active Member
Scripture says in many places not to be anxious or worry. It’s a command for believers to obey.
Below even AI agrees
How Stress and Anxiety Contribute to Depression
Below even AI agrees
How Stress and Anxiety Contribute to Depression
- Changes in brain function:
Chronic stress can cause lasting disruptions in the brain's stress response system, particularly the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, leading to mood changes and increased risk of depression.
- Cellular changes:
Long-term exposure to stress hormones can induce cellular changes in the brain that affect mood and behavior, potentially reversing processes that are protective against depression.
- Neuroinflammation:
Stress can activate inflammatory responses in the body, including the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, which have been linked to depression-like behaviors and can be mitigated by anti-inflammatory agents, notes the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
- Comorbidity:
Anxiety disorders are frequently comorbid with depression, meaning they often occur together, and conditions like generalized anxiety can increase the risk for depression.
- Complex Brain Networks:
The symptoms of anxiety and depression are often inseparable and are associated with alterations in neural function within brain regions that regulate mood and cognition, like the hippocampus.
- Changes in brain function:
FreeInChrist
Active Member
Scripture is correct to not be anxious or worry.
But one can experience depresion over unchangeable things in ones life that one simply does not want but is stuck with.
Example. Needing to live where one does for many reasons which requires being all alone with no options.
One is not necessarily anxious over that situation nor worry about it as it might be a fact. But can produce sadness
that worsens from time to time
Aeliana
Active Member
Banishing the Darkness
At times, I feel overwhelmed, and my depression leads me into darkness.
Dorothy Hamill, Olympic gold medalist
He has driven and brought me
into darkness without any light;
surely against me he turns his hand
again and again the whole day long.
Lamentations 3:2 ESV
As we approach the end of our time together, I have saved the best for last. When I was diagnosed with stage-two breast cancer twenty years ago, I believed that to survive, I had to approach this huge health challenge on multiple levels: mind, body, and spirit. It was not enough to just have surgery, take drugs, or engage in psychotherapy. To survive meant going into my soul and purging it of wrongdoing, shame, and bitterness toward others. The same is true in recovering from depression. We have talked about conventional medicine’s diagnosis and treatment of this condition, and we have addressed the necessity of forgiveness, but there’s a dimension that we have yet to explore in greater depth. In other words, it’s time to deal more fully with the heart of the matter. I believe it is in the spiritual realm that the darkness of depression can be best understood and ultimately banished.
What is this darkness that depressives speak of? They talk as if they are wandering in a deep, enveloping gloom with no gleam of light to be seen. It is as if they are lost, alone, isolated, condemned. And all the while, they hear voices in their heads speaking words of loathing: “You are worthless.” “No one truly cares for your soul.” “You can’t do anything right.” For the depressive, the darkness permeates all of life.
Author John Timmerman describes it thus: “Call it what you will, the most agonizing fact of the illness is that pall of darkness laid upon the mind. Life and light seem beyond reach. Something intervenes: a gray mist of separation, the inability to feel loved and needed, a feeling of being locked away from everything and everyone—including God … Clinically depressed patients cry, ‘My God, why hast thou forsaken me?’—and sometimes add, ‘But I really can’t blame you for doing so.’ Unworthiness. Forsakenness.”
It is a darkness that you, dear reader, cannot fathom unless you have been clinically depressed yourself. Moreover, you cannot penetrate the darkness your loved one is trapped in, nor can you, try as you might, lift it. This is not to say that you cannot extend a loving hand or help in any way you can. But since the darkness invades soul and spirit, its cure requires something deeply spiritual for its banishment. It requires the help of someone who has experienced isolation, pain, and despair greater than we can ever imagine.
It requires Christ and the cross.
On the cross, Christ experienced a terrifying darkness beyond the pale of human experience when He cried, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” We cannot begin to imagine what He felt, no matter how many movies we see or books we read. His was a sense of horrific pain and cosmic despair, compounded by the terrible realization of God’s absence in those acute moments when He bore the weight of the sins of the world. For a brief time, He experienced intrinsic darkness. But one of the results of this was and is His ability to identify with us when we are lost in our sins and grief.
Brenda Hunter, Understanding and Loving a Person with Depression: Biblical and Practical Wisdom to Build Empathy, Preserve Boundaries, and Show Compassion
At times, I feel overwhelmed, and my depression leads me into darkness.
Dorothy Hamill, Olympic gold medalist
He has driven and brought me
into darkness without any light;
surely against me he turns his hand
again and again the whole day long.
Lamentations 3:2 ESV
As we approach the end of our time together, I have saved the best for last. When I was diagnosed with stage-two breast cancer twenty years ago, I believed that to survive, I had to approach this huge health challenge on multiple levels: mind, body, and spirit. It was not enough to just have surgery, take drugs, or engage in psychotherapy. To survive meant going into my soul and purging it of wrongdoing, shame, and bitterness toward others. The same is true in recovering from depression. We have talked about conventional medicine’s diagnosis and treatment of this condition, and we have addressed the necessity of forgiveness, but there’s a dimension that we have yet to explore in greater depth. In other words, it’s time to deal more fully with the heart of the matter. I believe it is in the spiritual realm that the darkness of depression can be best understood and ultimately banished.
What is this darkness that depressives speak of? They talk as if they are wandering in a deep, enveloping gloom with no gleam of light to be seen. It is as if they are lost, alone, isolated, condemned. And all the while, they hear voices in their heads speaking words of loathing: “You are worthless.” “No one truly cares for your soul.” “You can’t do anything right.” For the depressive, the darkness permeates all of life.
Author John Timmerman describes it thus: “Call it what you will, the most agonizing fact of the illness is that pall of darkness laid upon the mind. Life and light seem beyond reach. Something intervenes: a gray mist of separation, the inability to feel loved and needed, a feeling of being locked away from everything and everyone—including God … Clinically depressed patients cry, ‘My God, why hast thou forsaken me?’—and sometimes add, ‘But I really can’t blame you for doing so.’ Unworthiness. Forsakenness.”
It is a darkness that you, dear reader, cannot fathom unless you have been clinically depressed yourself. Moreover, you cannot penetrate the darkness your loved one is trapped in, nor can you, try as you might, lift it. This is not to say that you cannot extend a loving hand or help in any way you can. But since the darkness invades soul and spirit, its cure requires something deeply spiritual for its banishment. It requires the help of someone who has experienced isolation, pain, and despair greater than we can ever imagine.
It requires Christ and the cross.
On the cross, Christ experienced a terrifying darkness beyond the pale of human experience when He cried, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” We cannot begin to imagine what He felt, no matter how many movies we see or books we read. His was a sense of horrific pain and cosmic despair, compounded by the terrible realization of God’s absence in those acute moments when He bore the weight of the sins of the world. For a brief time, He experienced intrinsic darkness. But one of the results of this was and is His ability to identify with us when we are lost in our sins and grief.
Brenda Hunter, Understanding and Loving a Person with Depression: Biblical and Practical Wisdom to Build Empathy, Preserve Boundaries, and Show Compassion
atpollard
Active Member
Opinion question.~ Is falling into a depression a sin?
- [1Ki 19:4 ESV] 4 But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness and came and sat down under a broom tree. And he asked that he might die, saying, "It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life, for I am no better than my fathers."
- [2Ki 2:11 ESV] 11 And as they still went on and talked, behold, chariots of fire and horses of fire separated the two of them. And Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.
- [Mar 9:4 ESV] 4 And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus.
In these three verses, Elijah falls into despair immediately after defeating the prophets of Baal, is carried away at the end of his life in a chariot of fire sent by God, and appears to Jesus to affirm his earthly ministry and divine person. The first sounds like depression to me, the second indicates favor from God (not 'sin') and the third reveals someone that God holds up as an example to us all.
So I say, "NO" depression is not a sin. It is a season, a valley of the shadow of death ... that one must cross through to the green pastures waiting on the other side.
Aeliana
Active Member
FreeInChrist
Active Member
Thank you for your well stated opinion.
civic
Active Member
Believers are commanded to be filled with the Holy Spirit, not to quench the Spirit. To be filled with joy.
Is depression a fruit of the Spirit ?
FreeInChrist
Active Member
Of course not. So it must be a sin. And I am filled with the Spirit.
Was Job filled with joy? God had his back but even Job suffered.
civic
Active Member
I guess we are looking at things differently.
Paul was beaten, imprisoned , persecuted , suffered and wrote from jail the letter of Joy called the book of Philippians. Circumstances in his life named above were opportunities to glorify Christ and be His witnesses even to the jailer who came to Christ through his suffering, torturing. Much like the thief on the cross who witnessed Jesus suffering.
atpollard
Active Member
2 Corinthians 12:7-10 [ESV]
So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
No, Depression is not a fruit of the Spirit.
However, I have little patience for the B.S. theology that "real Christians do not struggle or suffer" ... so one just needs to pray harder or have more faith. [begin sarcasm] Apparently the APOSTLE PAUL lacked the "fruit of the Spirit" (just as Elijah and Jonah did) since all three recorded their STRUGGLES as well as God's victories in the Bible!) [end sarcasm]
- God promises to never leave us.
- God promises us to see us THROUGH difficulty.
- God promises us GRACE during those Hard Times.
- God promises nobody a "free pass" (no matter what Joel Osteen says).
civic
Active Member
I never said believers don’t struggle where did you get that from ?
I’m just pointing out what Jesus and the Apostles commanded which means to obey what they told us to do.
Your argument is not with me it’s with obeying or disobeying what Jesus and the Apostles taught believers to do on a daily basis. We are to crucify the flesh and its desires. We are to live in the Spirit. These are not “ options “ they are commands to be obeyed.
hope this helps !!!
civic
Active Member
Also I just wanted to say this has been something that hits close to home on both sides of my family. I have struggled with it too over the years. I’m sorry if I sounded insensitive, my apologies if I came across that way. Please forgive me.
FreeInChrist
Active Member
@civic... there is nothing to apologize for. But you are forgiven always....Also I just wanted to say this has been something that hits close to home on both sides of my family. I have struggled with it too over the years. I’m sorry if I sounded insensitive, my apologies if I came across that way. Please forgive me.
And sometimes insensitivity does help. TYVM
I woke up this morning feeling a bit depressed. I thought about it and made my mind up not to stay there. I feel fine now, life is good.
The Bible tells us to be filled with joy and praise (Philippians 4:4; Romans 15:11), so God apparently intends for us all to live joyful lives. This is not easy for someone suffering from situational depression, but it can be remedied through God's gifts of prayer, Bible study and application, Scripture memorization, support groups, fellowship among believers, confession, forgiveness, intentional gratitude, and counseling.
The Bible tells us to be filled with joy and praise (Philippians 4:4; Romans 15:11), so God apparently intends for us all to live joyful lives. This is not easy for someone suffering from situational depression, but it can be remedied through God's gifts of prayer, Bible study and application, Scripture memorization, support groups, fellowship among believers, confession, forgiveness, intentional gratitude, and counseling.
What does the Bible say about depression? How can a Christian overcome depression? | GotQuestions.org
What does the Bible say about depression? How can a Christian overcome depression? Is it wrong for a Christian to be depressed?
www.gotquestions.org
All sins have been taken care of. What is needed is the help of the spirit of the resurrected Lord Jesus in ones life. Many people do not know, people can die with Christ, be buried with Christ, and rise to newness of life abiding in the Lord Yeshua.
What leads to depression? typically not working, low fiances, low food, lack of sleep, and things of this nature. Those are the other options concering your flesh and how it may feel - concerning ones own heart.
What leads to depression? typically not working, low fiances, low food, lack of sleep, and things of this nature. Those are the other options concering your flesh and how it may feel - concerning ones own heart.
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