GOD'S BLESSINGS RELEASE A DEPRESSED HEART

[Heavnbnd24]

We are so blessed to have God's Word to touch our hearts when they most need it. God teaches us that "anxiety in the heart of man causes depression" (Proverbs 12:25). For me, I have lived this truth. I have lived a life of anxiety for many reasons and it's not always over the bad things. Even exciting things in life can get me anxious. It doesn't take long before it turns into a form of depression or a kind of melancholy or sadness that results. BUT GOD is the strength of our hearts and our portion FOREVER! It took me 40 years to learn this valuable lesson yet such a short time to bring me through those painful moments of despair.

One of the greatest blessings I have experienced in understanding the depression is in studying Dr. John Piper's material on "Battling Unbelief". There is a complex belief system we have that makes it very difficult to sort through truth from delusion. The battle over my depression was in rediscovering what belief system I was attached to and what needed to be changed. John Piper often says, "When anxiety comes (or despondency, or fear or lust) DO NOT YIELD to it but BELIEVE!" Yielding says that I don't know the God who is powerful enough to bring me up and out of the challenge. Yielding says that I don't believe God is able to do all that He has promised. It's essentially saying, " I don't believe You, Lord!" THAT is just where Satan would have me. NOT believing God! It's a lie that's as old as the apple tree!

I don't know why it took me so long to figure this out. I don't know why God didn't bring this truth to me a long time ago. Perhaps He did but I wasn't listening! Having the experience of a life of anxiety has now made me appreciate the blessings God is now giving me. They seem to erase what burdened me for so long while now giving me a new life filled with love and grace. I may not live another 41 years to say my blessings now outweigh my pain BUT GOD has already shown it to me in just a few short years of learning to BELIEVE Him. Saving faith is a powerful thing and the Word, my Savior Jesus, makes it possible. I share this blessing to you!

Giving all glory to Jesus, in His Name, I praise Thee! ~ Judy

http://www.desiringgod.org/Search/?search=battling+unbelief
_________________
Thank you, Sweet Jesus! I'm all yours!