Bible Text: Psalm 88 | Pastor: Mark Hayes | Series: Finding Comfort in God’s Character | When people describe their experience of depression you often hear them talk about pain (often emotional), emotional numbness, dejection, fears, anxieties, restlessness, torment, alienation, suicidal thoughts and guilt.

 Possible causes of feelings of depression:  surgery and sickness, childbirth, chemical imbalance in the body, sleep loss, job loss or other losses, financial or relational or other difficulties, ongoing sin: bitterness, worry, jealousy, anger and guilt.

 What you and I can do to help someone who is battling feelings of depression: Be physically  present, pray with them, clean the house with them, read the Psalms together, go for a walk or exercise together.  [From the book “Blame it on the Brain” by Ed Welch]

 What can you and I do to battle feelings of depression:

 

If the symptoms are so severe that they interfere with daily life, get medical help and possibly counseling.

Work to address the physical contributors and symptoms (insomnia, etc.)

Work to address relational or circumstantial contributors – Biblically

Deal with spiritual problems – Biblically

Soak yourself in God’s Word and God’s promises

 

 Other Scripture: 1 Corinthians, 10:13, Philippians 4:13, Romans 8:32, 2 Corinthians 12:9