The Problem: Depression. The Solution: Jesus Christ. by Dr. Alan Kitay Depression is the number one emotional disorder in America. Broken, unhappy homes and waisted lives are many timers the result of unfettered depression. Rising suicide rates, especially among the young, show the final end to which depression takes people. It is a condition marked by extended periods and feelings of dejection, rejection, or unmet expectations. This usually results in despondency, cessation of activity, hopelessness, and apathy. Mood swings are frequent and apathy prevalent. Depression in the Bible: In the Bible there are four causes of depression: rejection, fear, powerlessness, and sin: Let’s look at some examples in the Bible. Rejection (Gen. 4:3-7): 3] And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the Lord. [4] And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the Lord had respect unto Abel and to his offering: [5] But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell. [6] And the Lord said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen? [7] If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him. Fear (1 Kings 19: 1 Ki: 19:2-4) [Jezebel, enraged that Elijah had ordered the death of her priests of Baal, threatened to put Elijah to death] …Then Jezebel sent a messenger unto Elijah, saying, So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I make not thy life as the life of one of them by to morrow about this time. [3] And when he saw that, he arose, and went for his life, and came to Beer-sheba, which belongeth to Judah, and left his servant there. [4] But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers. Powerlessness (Neh. 2:1-5) ) And it came to pass in the month Nisan, in the twentieth year of Artaxerxes the king, that wine was before him: and I took up the wine, and gave it unto the king. Now I had not been beforetime sad in his presence. [2] Wherefore the king said unto me, Why is thy countenance sad, seeing thou art not sick? this is nothing else but sorrow of heart. Then I was very sore afraid, [3] And said unto the king, Let the king live for ever: why should not my countenance be sad, when the city, the place of my fathers’ sepulchres, lieth waste, and the gates thereof are consumed with fire? [4]Then the king said unto me, For what dost thou make request? So I prayed to the God of heaven. [5] And I said unto the king, If it please the king, and if thy servant have found favour in thy sight, that thou wouldest send me unto Judah, unto the city of my fathers’ sepulchres, that I may build it. Sin (Psalm 38:1-4) A Psalm of David, to bring to remembrance. O Lord, rebuke me not in thy wrath: neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure. [2] For thine arrows stick fast in me, and thy hand presseth me sore. [3] There is no soundness in my flesh because of thine anger; neither is there any rest in my bones because of my sin. [4] For mine iniquities are gone over mine head: as an heavy burden they are too heavy for me. The Good News: There are many instances where people suffered from depression in the Bible. The scriptures expressing feelings of depression and anxiety contain very important Biblical wisdom, because they help us understand that this problem is not new to mankind. The only
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