Sunday, July 29, 2012

Fear? Anxiety? Depression? ANSWERS??


Where does depression come from?  What is this fear I always have?  How do I deal with my anxiety?  How can I be free from this bondage?  Is there a permanent fix?  These are just a few of the thousands of questions that almost every woman on the planet faces at some point in her life.  By God’s design, we were wired with something so intricate and delicate that when used properly gives us the sensitivity and compassion to snuggle our babies and calm them down from their own anxious moods, but when pushed ever so slightly in the wrong direction sends us careening into a pit of despair.  You can spend the rest of your life searching for the perfect workout regime, read every top selling book about stress and depression, go to the top psychologists, eat all the right foods and be as healthy as possible, but there is only one place that you will find the healing you so desperately need.  It stands to reason that since God is the one who created us with our emotions and our intricate wiring, He is the only one who can teach us how to manage what He’s given us.  So, what does the Bible say, and more importantly, how does it work out practically in my unique situation?
One thing I have discovered as I study the Bible is that fear, anxiety, and depression are very closely intertwined and all play a role in the imbalance in the life of a woman.  Don’t get me wrong, men experience these issues too, but it seems that women are so much more susceptible to being overtaken by them.  While I don’t deny that there are valid health issues and chemical imbalances that can play a part in our anxiety, these instances are extremely over-diagnosed and real cases are few and far between.  More often are woman who need a relationship with Jesus Christ, and then need to learn from Him how to manage the life He blessed us with.  Remember, our emotions were given to us as a gift from God, not a curse.  Sin is what changed things and brought us to the place we are now of needing to figure out how to keep our moods under control.
I have had more than my fair share of struggles in this area, and everything that I will say here I firmly believe based on my understanding of scriptures.  I never claim that it’s easy, but I know it to be truth.  This is obviously going to be way too much to type into one blog post, so stay tuned for the next post in this series where I will share some of my own experience with fear, anxiety, and depression.  Following will be many more posts of how God’s Word has helped me and how it can help you too.  Let the journey begin!