Overcome Anxiety and Depression
By Capazin Thornton
“Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression, but a good word makes it glad.”— Prov 12:25
In today’s world depression is considered a disease. The Mayo Clinic defines depression as a mood disorder that causes a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest. Further:
“More than just a bout of the blues, depression isn’t a weakness and you can’t simply “snap out” of it. Depression may require long-term treatment. But don’t get discouraged. Most people with depression feel better with medication, psychological counseling or both.” http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/depression/basics/definition/con-20032977
However, the Bible—the greatest success book ever written—reveals that the root cause of depression is anxiety (anxious care, worry) in one’s heart. Thus, when anxiety in the heart is dealt with, depression will go.
Overcome Anxiety and Depression
7 steps to overcome anxiety and depression
Here are seven steps to overcome anxiety and depression.
1. REPENT (turn) from worry. Worry is having greater faith in life’s circumstances than in God and His promises. God’s Word will not produce fruit in the life of a worrier. God says:
“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”—Phil 4:6-7
2. REFOCUS: Stop focusing on external things. Turn your focus to the Lord.
“I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the End, says the Lord, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty” (Rev 1:8)
The Almighty means “He who holds sway over everything; the ruler of all; God almighty.”
3. REALIZE: For every problem, God has a promise in His Word—a good, cheerful, encouraging, right word.
4. RECEIVE the promises in faith believing.
5. RENEW your mind on God’s Word every day.
6. REJOICE in the Lord. “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!” —Phil 4:4
7. REST in Peace.
You [God] will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.—Isa 26:3
The Hebrew word for peace is shalom, which also means health, security, tranquility, welfare, success, prosperity, and comfort. The Greek word for peace (eirene) means to join. The Latin word for peace is se cuma, which means without care.
Only when we are joined with God through Christ can we have peace with God and the prevailing peace of God. We overcome anxiety and depression ultimately by allowing the peace of God to rule our hearts. And we enforce that peace by thinking and speaking cheerful and encouraging words according to the Scriptures.
[Scripture References: Mark 4:18-19; Rev 1:8; Col 3:1-2; Heb 12:2; Mark 11:22, 24; 1 John 5:14-15; Rom 12:1-2; Col 3:15; Phil 4:8]
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Capazin Thornton is a Christian speaker, Bible teacher and author in Orange County, California.
