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My soul is weary with sorrow; strengthen me according to your word. (Psalm 119:28)
My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; he is mine forever. (Psalm 73:26)
Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you. (1 Peter 5:7)
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28)
The Lord hears his people when they call to him for help. He rescues them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed. (Psalms 34:17-18)
But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint. (Isaiah 40:31)
Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7)
DEVOTIONAL
Everyone feels stressed or down from time to time. But what happens when that feeling turns into something lasting...something resembling depression? We may be in denial at first thinking surely depression can’t touch us—we are Christ-followers, after all.
In David Murphy’s book Christians Get Depressed, he says “Stressful experiences can continue over a lengthy period, or they can occur one on top of another, or they can affect us more seriously than other people. The result is that our body and brain chemistry remains abnormal, as does our mood. We just can’t pick ourselves up, no matter how many people urge us to. This is depression.”
The good news is depression doesn’t have to be a life sentence. God’s Word equips us with weapons to fight with and encouragement for our daily journey. A Christian counselor, credible books, and community support can also be great resources. The important thing to remember is that it’s not your fault, you are not alone, and God is for your healing. Keep taking steps toward Christ each day—as you draw near to Him, He will draw near to you.
DECLARATION
God is for me, so who can be against me? Because I know Him, He is working all things together for my good. I am more than a conqueror through Jesus, who loves me and gives me strength. Pain and trials can be my friend as I learn from them and become stronger. Therefore, I rejoice in suffering and recognize that I am not alone because God will give me strength.
PRAYER
Jesus, I thank you that I’m not alone and that depression isn’t a life sentence. I pray that you would strengthen me and give me victory. Help me to rise above anxious thoughts as I surrender them to you. Renew my mind with your Wword. Help me see the light at the end of the tunnel. In Jesus’ name, amen.