We Are Blessed To Be Alive

[Sam]

Originally Posted by endtimer

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.

...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.

Thank you for sharing that.

[endtimer]

Originally Posted by Sam

Thank you for sharing that.

You are welcome. Ive gained more than I ever lost in this thing. I sit in awe of Gods grace. If I can share and help someone else with this, it would be a joy to me.

[KeptByTheWord]

What a powerful testimony Endtimer. Thank you for sharing hope that there is light at the end of the tunnel for those suffering from depression. I've never personally suffered from depression, but have close friends, and family who have. Having gratitude and thankfulness to the Lord goes a long way in taking a bad situation, and changing it into the "peace in the midst of the storm" hope that we can have.

[Esaias]

Originally Posted by Jermyn Davidson

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.

Hey, think what you want.

David had all the signs of clinical depression, but God brought him out of it.

As He has many others.

[houston]

Did God bring him out of it?

[RandyWayne]

Originally Posted by endtimer

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.

This is a good story. My depression started when I turned 18, and has never left. Sometimes it is only minor depression, but many times it ranks as 'major'. Needless to say I do get a little perturbed, as often make a big display of playing an imaginary violin for all to see, when I hear someone going "<sigh> I've just been feeling down lately because the devil has been attacking me. Please pray that I get the victory!". Such low-info people have no idea.

I've always lived by (well, since 1989 anyways) the wisdom of Capt Kirk.

"I need my pain.

[Esaias]

[endtimer]

Originally Posted by Esaias

Paranoia is often associated with depression.

[RandyWayne]

[endtimer]