We Are Blessed To Be Alive
 

We really are.

Just one of the many fleeting thoughts that come across my mind from time to time.

We have so much to thank God for.

Father, help me to be as grateful to You as You have been kind to me.

Re: We Are Blessed To Be Alive
 

:thumbsup

Re: We Are Blessed To Be Alive
 

Yup. I was reminded of that today as we got the news that three of my employees were in a crash that killed two of them along with their daughter.

Re: We Are Blessed To Be Alive
 

How can a Christian be diagnosed with depression?

It just seems so implausible, on paper-- but it is a reality for a few Christians I know.


How can a Christian really, seriously contemplate suicide?
It makes no sense, right?

Remember the Pastor from Arizona?

I mean, how does it happen?

Is there anyone on here that has been through that and are now on the other side of through?

Was it medicine?
Was it prayer, fasting, and medicine?
Was it a shaking of oneself and then "presto" no more sadness?

Re: We Are Blessed To Be Alive
 

I can speak on this, having dealt with depression in the past myself. Depression can be a physical problem. A shortage of hormones often brought about by great physical stress and lack of rest over a prolonged period of time. The addition of negative emotions such as anxiety, fear and or anger could serve as a catalyst for depression.

Re: We Are Blessed To Be Alive
 

:lol I guess that was a thread killer.

Re: We Are Blessed To Be Alive
 

Prayer, fasting, faith, and the mercy of God.

As for 'how can it be?' David was often depressed. But God brought him out.

Depression is a normal human experience. We make it into something that consumes all things, giving it more power than it has.

It's okay to feel however you feel, but we should keep in mind that God's reality is superior to our fleeting, temporary perceptions.

Re: We Are Blessed To Be Alive
 

How is it that you were able to overcome this?

I am talking about a case of clinically diagnosed depression-- not a series of bad days culminating with a few weeks of being down on yourself.

Re: We Are Blessed To Be Alive
 

I don't think it is "okay" to feel depressed, as in diagnosed with clinical depression.

Neither do I think it is God's Will for any of His people to be depressed to the point of attempting suicide or even to the point of contemplating it for weeks at a time.

Re: We Are Blessed To Be Alive
 

This a great thread as it highlights a major life lesson for me. That is the issue of thankfulness, a true attitude of gratitude, not just the obligatory "thank you" for the new blessing. Anyway, I do not have the 20/20 vision of my situation yet, that hind sight promises but I will do my best to answer your question.

I was diagnosed by my doctor as suffering from Major Depression. He also called it "burn-out depression". I went in to see him because I was always tired (I would sleep up to 15 hrs at a time), lost my energy, had migraine head aches, memory problems, lost interest in things that normally would hold it and I just wasn't feeling like myself. He told me I was suffering from depression and I argued with him as I felt hopeful and believed God for good things. Besides, God wouldn't let me go through depression. Right? For me, depression wasn't just a bout of the blues, it was a physical problem. A shortage of hormones, the doc. explained. At the time I pastored a growing and vibrant church, was teaching 3 or 4 home bible studies a week, preaching at home and out on week ends, add to that a full time job and a family to care for. I was just wore out but kept going on the excitement of winning another soul. The depression was at the very beginning of a 5 year long trial and lasted about 1 year a half. I will spare you all the details so as to not sound melodramatic, but I will say without exaggeration the thing wrecked me totally.

I overcame this thing by Gods grace, first of all. I reduced my work load, resigned my pastorate. I hated doing this but I was hurting myself and I didn't want to hurt my family or my church. I worked at forgiving those that hurt me (there were many). Out of desperation, I took meds temporarily and seen a christian counselor for a short time, and yes, they worked well for a time. My restoration was a slow, agonizing process with many steps. I firmly believe it was close relationships with God, my very patient wife and my understanding pastor that helped bring about restoration. "When a brother is taken in a fall, you who are spiritual restore such a one..." definitely applied to my situation. I found out it takes truly spiritual people to restore a broken brother or sister. Carnal people can only help so much, if at all.

Today, seven years later, Im a very different man. I am so much more happy and thankful. Gratitude has become an attitude and life style for me. I have given you the very short version of my story as there really is so much more to say about this. I HATED the depression and the prolonged trial after words but I would not trade it for any thing. Ive learned priceless lessons that will no doubt effect me the rest of my life and ministry. I have drawn closer to God and family through it all. Know this, this thing could have ended in tragic failure but I chose to cling to Jesus and he made to overcome.