Let us look at some basic causes of depression.
Abuse: This could be emotional, physical or sexual abuse. For instance, when someone superior to you cheats or insults you and treats you as a nobody, this emotional feeling may be triggered. If someone who is supposed to take care of you consistently beats and hits you with objects, that is physical abuse. Likewise, many males and females have been abused sexually. For instance, if someone harasses or forcefully has carnal knowledge of an individual and the victim is helpless, or where the rapist could not be brought to book, depression may set in for the victim.
Age: According to a local parlance, the peace of mind at old age is golden. There are three stages in life: morning, evening and night. At each stage, life has placed certain expectations on one to be fulfilled. If someone misses the first stage, the person may take solace in the second stage. Failure at the second stage will send apprehension to the last stage. This is why people who are elderly are at a higher risk of depression. For instance, if a person enters the last stage and things are not working as expected or things that were earlier working suddenly turn negative, there may be fear leading to depression. You can read more about this from my first published book titled Just One Life.
Social rejection: Social rejection also causes a cascade of emotional and cognitive consequences. Researchers have established that social rejection increases anger, jealousy, sadness, anxiety and depression. Generally, depression is an expression of several disappointments.
Confronting Negative Circumstances
Confronting unpleasant or spiritually manipulated circumstances require vigilance and divine assistance. Most challenging situations that appear normal have spiritual undertones that cannot be confronted by mere physical reaction. For believers, the Bible lets us know that “we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.” Ephesians 6:12.
This world we are living in is a battlefield, and you need to fight with the right weapons to survive and make positive impact. The right weapons are the Word of God, the Name and the Blood of Jesus. The Bible says, “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,” 2 Corinthians 10:3-5.
You must be fervent in prayers with a pure heart and pray in the Holy Ghost. The book of James 5:16 says “the effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.” Before you take any human step, first commit it to God’s hands so that you will be divinely directed. Keep praying over and again about it; even when it appears nothing is happening, keep your faith strong in the Lord. There is a common saying where I come from which says, “Anyone that masquerade is running after should persevere because as the mortal gets weary, so does the celestial.” It is most certain that when you persevere in prayers, you will surely share your testimonies.
It is however expedient to note that for your prayers to be answered, you must hold no grudge against anyone in your heart. You must always be prepared to forgive anyone who has offended you so that Satan will not have a legal stand against your prayers. The wisdom behind this is found in our Lord’s Prayer according to Matthew 6:12 and Luke 11:4, where Jesus asks all believers to forgive their offenders in order to receive divine forgiveness.
By releasing from your heart those who have offended you, you have systematically handed over your case to God who will take the battle to the doorsteps of your offenders, particularly those who have refused to desist from attacking you. You can be sure of victory when God is fighting on your side because He is a consuming fire (Hebrews 12:29). In fact, the scriptures make it clear that it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God (Hebrews 10:31).
Remember, you must not compromise your faith while the battle lasts and even when you are victorious. The word of God in Matthew 24:13 says, “he that endures to the end shall be saved”.
Your companionship with the Lord Jesus must stand the test of time. Your devotion to Him must be total to the extent that God will vouch for you as He did for Job in the scriptures.
Paul the Apostle said we should not allow any circumstance we face to separate us from the love Jesus has bestowed on us because if we don’t, we will be more than conquerors (Romans 8:35-37).
You also need to know that many are the afflictions of the righteous but God has promised to deliver him out of them all (Psalm 34:19). So, don’t entertain fear when you are passing through difficult times but rather, focus on Jesus who is the author and finisher of your faith. Stand on the word of God and His promises as written in Isaiah 43:1-2.
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