Do We Recognize God's Healing? (Day 8 of our challenge against seasonal depression) - EncouragementMama.com

*Please note that I am not a licensed physician or medical professional of any kind. All advice, tips, and resources on this blog are given purely from personal testimony, Biblical wisdom, and encouragement. If at any time, you feel hopeless or in despair, please do not hesitate to call your physician, seek medical help, or call the Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255. (Find out more HERE.)

Will God heal us from our seasonal depression?

I still remember the day I hit a brick wall–emotionally, spiritually, and physically.

It was about 10 years ago, and my husband had offered to take me out for lunch. I got ready, got in the car, and almost immediately broke down into tears.

Of course, my poor husband was startled at my sudden outburst. I’d never been one to cry in front of him, especially on a lunch date!

But I had reached the end of my depressed heart. I had prayed so hard for deliverance from what seemed like a dark cloud that had followed me most of my adult life. And yet, I constantly felt like God didn’t hear me, or didn’t want to heal me.

Can anyone relate?

I remember trying to explain to my husband, who has never suffered seasonal depression, how I felt cursed with a burden of sadness that had no real explanation. I apologized to him profusely, knowing that my bouts of depression had hurt him and the children. The tremendous amount of guilt I was carrying was enough to make anyone crumble.

It was at that time that my husband insisted I talk with a professional Christian counselor. And even though it was the worst time financially for us, he insisted I take that first step towards wellness.

At the first appointment with the dear older woman who had been referred to me, I sat politely on her couch and folded my hands in my lap. She smiled and asked, “Jennifer, tell me what brings you in to see me today.”

That was it! The floodgates once again broke open and I cried for a solid 5 minutes before being able to speak.

Sisters, that’s what built-up depression does. It rises like the waters of a river, reaching the top of the dam, until one crack in the wall leads to the bursting forth of a current so powerful, it overtakes everything around it.

From that day on, I began to heal.

Was it the immediate healing I’d prayed for most of my adult life? No. But it was still the gentle, guided healing from my loving Father.

You see, I have no doubt that He allowed me to reach my limit that day with my husband. I have no doubt He gave my husband the wisdom to insist I get help. I have no doubt that God led me to the dear, Christian woman who walked me through several weeks of counsel. And I have no doubt that He bit-by-faithful-bit began to mend the broken place of my heart.

Do I still struggle with depression? Yes. But I can honestly say it has never reached the depths it once was. In fact, my seasons of depression are more like moments of depression now. And with God’s grace, I am able to rise above it more than ever before.

So, please let me encourage you today…

God’s healing can come in an instant or through a process that He puts into place.

The big question for all of us is, “Will we seek His healing no matter how He decides to deliver it?”

Now, I ask that question with plenty of discernment and caution. We have to be careful what we observe to be from God. Our true guide is the Scriptures, so everything must be tested in light of the Word.

But what if the healing you’ve been praying for, longing for, and desperate for, looks a little different than you’ve pictured? Consider the following scenarios…

What if God wants you to change a life-long habit as a first step in healing?

What if God wants you to find a trusted counselor to walk you through the healing process?

What if God wants you to take your physical health seriously and start to heal naturally?

What if God wants you to be honest with your family and friends concerning your depression, so that they can point you in the right direction?

There are probably a hundred “what-ifs” that we could consider. And only the Holy Spirit can guide you through yours. But dear one, will you allow Him to heal you in the way that He has chosen? Will you seek His will and follow His direction?

Today’s Action:

Today, I’d like you to read through Psalm 40 as a prayer to God. Read through all 17 verses and look for the ways in which God delivers and heals.

On paper, write down every action that is given in Psalm 40–actions God has taken on behalf of the Psalmist. For example:

He inclined to me and heard my cry…

He drew me up from the pit of destruction…

He put a new song in my mouth…

Sisters, God can heal us from depression. He longs for us to live in the joy and freedom He has provided through Jesus.

Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls. 1 Peter 1:8-9 ESV

My prayer for all of us today is that we will be filled with inexpressible joy and be able to rejoice in His precious promise of salvation.

Always an email away,

Jennifer