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Copyright 1998 Diane S. Dew
Scripture uses many words to describe the mental anguish, sorrow, and depression that can oppress us in this life. Whether caused by sin, suffering or some other source, depression can take a lifetime to overcome, if we do not understand how to take control over our own emotions. Many live their entire lives in bondage, unaware they can be victorious over oppression.
Following are words used in Scripture to describe feelings of depression, and instances of their use in the Bible. Parallel to this list,
in the right column, are eight steps to overcoming depression.
thlibo (v), "to press; to distress; to trouble"
"Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few ... find it." Matt. 7:14
"And whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation." 2 Corin 1:6
"We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair" 2 Corin 4:8
"... we were troubled on every side; without were fightings, within were fears." 2 Corin 7:5
"... we told you before that we should suffer tribulation; even as it came to pass, and ye know." 1 Thess. 3:4
"Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you" 2 Thess 1:6
"Well reported of for good works; if she have ... lodged strangers, if she have washed the saints' feet, if she have relieved the afflicted, if she have diligently followed every good work." 1 Tim 5:10
"They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented" Heb 11:37
Cp. Mark 3:9
lupei (n), "grief, sorrow, distress, suffering"
lupeo (v), "to cause pain, to grieve, to annoy"
"And while they abode in Galilee, Jesus said unto them, The Son of Man shall be betrayed into the hands of men: And they shall kill him... And they were exceeding sorry." Matt. 17:22, 23
"But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions." Matt. 19:22
"And they were exceeding sorrowful, and began every one of them to say unto him, Lord, is it I?" Matt. 26:22
"And he [Jesus] took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy. Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me." Matt. 26:37, 38
"... I say unto you, that ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy." John 16:20
"But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably." Romans 14:15
"For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote unto you with many tears; not that ye should be grieved, but that ye might know the love which I have more abundantly unto you." 2 Cor. 2:4
"But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope." 1 Thess. 4:13
Now no chastening for the present seems to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby." Heb. 12:11
"Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through many testings." 1 Peter 1:6
""For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully." 1 Peter 2:19
adeimonia, "in great distress or anguish"
"My soul is exceeding sorrowful...", Matt. 27:38 (cp. Mark 14:33, 34)
"For he longed after you all, and was full of heaviness, because that ye had heard that he had been sick." Phil. 2:26
stenochoria, "narrowness of place, a trapped feeling"
" Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile" Rom 2:9
"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?" Rom 8:35
"But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses." 2 Corin 6:4
"Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong." 2 Corin 12:10
sunochei, used metaphorically for "anguish or distress"
"For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote unto you with many tears; not that ye should be grieved, but that ye might know the love which I have more abundantly unto you." 2 Corin 2:4
"And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring" Luke 21:25
thlipsis (n), "pressure, oppression, affliction"
"Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended." Matt 13:21
"Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake." Matt 24:9
"...when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word's sake, immediately they are offended." Mark 4:17
"For in those days shall be affliction, such as was not from the beginning of the creation which God created unto this time, neither shall be.... But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened..." Mark 13:19, 24
"A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come: but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world... These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." John 16:21, 33
"And delivered him out of all his afflictions, and gave him favour and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh king of Egypt; and he made him governor over Egypt and all his house. Now there came a dearth over all the land of Egypt and Chanaan, and great affliction: and our fathers found no sustenance." Acts 7:10, 11
"Now they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen travelled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only." Acts 11:19
"Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God." Acts 14:22
"Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me." Acts 20:23
"Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile" Rom 2:9
"And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience" Rom 5:3
"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?" Rom 8:35
"Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer" Rom 12:12
"But and if thou marry, thou ... [shalt] have trouble in the flesh: but I spare you." 1 Corin 7:28
"Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.... For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble ...we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life" 2 Corin 1:4, 8
"For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote unto you with many tears; not that ye should be grieved, but that ye might know the love which I have more abundantly unto you." 2 Corin 2:4
"For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory" 2 Corin 4:17
"But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses" 2 Corin 6:4
"Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my glorying of you: I am filled with comfort, I am exceeding joyful in all our tribulation." 2 Corin 7:4
"How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality." 2 Corin 8:2
"Wherefore I desire that ye faint not at my tribulations for you, which is your glory." Eph 3:13
"Notwithstanding ye have well done, that ye did communicate with my affliction." Phil 4:14
"Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the church" Col 1:24
"And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost" 1 Thess 1:6
"That no man should be moved by these afflictions: for yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto... Therefore, brethren, we were comforted over you in all our affliction and distress by your faith" 1 Thess 3:3, 7
"So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure.... Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you" 2 Thess 1:4, 6
"Partly, whilst ye were made a gazingstock both by reproaches and afflictions; and partly, whilst ye became companions of them that were so used." Heb 10:33
"Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world." James 1:27
"I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, ... for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ." Rev 1:9
"I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan. Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. ... Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds." Rev 2:9, 10, 22
"And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb." Rev 7:14
kataroneo (v), "to wear out with toil or suffering"
"And seeing one of them suffer wrong, he defended him, and avenged him that was oppressed, and smote the Egyptian" Acts 7:24
"And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked" 2 Peter 2:7
sunechw (v), "to forcibly hold together; to contain; to constrain; to oppress"
"...and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatick, and those that had the palsy; and he healed them." Matt 4:24, 38
"For the days shall come upon thee, that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side" Luke 19:43
"And ...Paul was pressed in the spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus was Christ" Acts 18:5
"For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better" Phil 1:23
Cp. Luke 8:45; Luke 22:63; Acts 7:57; 28:8; 2 Corin 5:14; etc.
(cont'd in col. 2)
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How To Win Over Depression
8 Steps to Victory
by Diane S. Dew © Copyright 1998
If you exercise the following options every time you get depressed, Satan's onslaughts will not affect you as much -- because he'd rather leave you alone than have you worshipping God, reading the Word of God, ministering to others, etc. Certainly you will grow stronger spiritually in the process, because you'll be exercising your spiritual muscles.
1. Worship God
Nothing puts everything into perspective like gazing upon the majesty of the Almighty. Make melody to God, or listen to some anointed music: that's what Saul did, when depressed: he called for David, the minstrel, and the anointing on David's music caused the evil spirit that depressed and harassed him to depart.
As the psalmist said: "Magnify the Lord." When He is
magnified, our perspective changes: Everything else seems smaller, less
significant.
2. Read Scripture
The Word of God is powerful in changing our perspective on earthly things. It comforts us. "For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope." Rom 15:4 "This is my comfort in my affliction: for thy word hath quickened me." Psa 119:50 "Mine eyes fail for thy word, saying, When wilt thou comfort me?" Psa 119:81, 82
3. Pray. Express your feelings to God.
Prayer strengthens us (Psa 27:14; 138:3; Isa 30:15) and gives us peace (Phil 4:6, 7; Isa 26:3).
4. Find a place of service.
"Occupy till I come" (Luke 19:13) In other words: keep busy. As the saying goes, "Idleness is the devil's workshop."
There used to be another old saying that went something like this:
"I complained that I didn't have new shoes, till I saw someone with
no feet." There's always someone worse off than we are. Focusing on others' needs will keep your eyes off your own problems.
5. Take control over your thoughts
"Set your affection on things above, not things on the earth" (Col 3:1) Realize that Jesus redeemed us entirely: spirit, soul and body. (Isaiah 53)
6. Keep filled with the Spirit
"Be filled [literally, be being filled] with the Spirit, speaking to yourselves in songs and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your hearts to the Lord." (Eph 5:18)
7. Walk in the Spirit
Don't give the enemy a foothold. Confess any known sin. Avoid places or people that tend to bring you down.
8. Rest in the Lord
"Rest in the Lord & wait patiently for him" (Psa 37:7). "...and
having done all, stand." (Eph 6) Worrying can't change the situation anyway. As the saying goes: "Let go and let God." Trust in His infinite wisdom, that he has everything under control. Even a sparrow doesn't fall to the ground without his notice, Jesus said. The very hairs of your head are numbered.
Depression linked to cancer in elderly
Being chronically depressed for 6 years or more nearly doubles the risk of developing cancer for seniors, according to a report in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute Dec. 16, 1998.
Why chronically depressed people appear to have a higher risk of cancer is unknown, but one possibility is that depressed individuals have changes in central nervous system activity that interfere with the immune system, says Dr. Richard J. Havlik, of the National Institute on Aging in Bethesda, Md. Other possible explanations include genetic predisposition, smoking, use of antidepressants, alcohol abuse and overeating.
But these findings apply only to elderly people, says Dr. Robert Croyle, of the National Cancer Institute in Bethesda, Md.
"It may be that the mechanisms responsible for the relationship between depression and cancer are part of a more complex aging process, producing age-specific vulnerability to disease," Croyle says. "Thus, it would be premature to conclude that adults might reduce their risk of cancer through the treatment of depression."
(cont'd from col. 1)
anagkei (n), "necessity, constraint, natural desire (as hunger), bodily pain"
" Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!" Matt 18:7
"And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused." Luke 14:18
"But woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck, in those days! for there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people." Luke 21:23
"Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake." Rom 13:5
"I suppose therefore that this is good for the present distress, I say, that it is good for a man so to be.... Nevertheless he that standeth stedfast in his heart, having no necessity, but hath power over his own will, and hath so decreed in his heart that he will keep his virgin, doeth well." 1 Corin 7:26, 37
"For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!" 1 Corin 9:16
"But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses" 2 Corin 6:4
"Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver." 2 Corin 9:7
"Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong." 2 Corin 12:10
"Therefore, brethren, we were comforted over you in all our affliction and distress by your faith" 1 Thess 3:7
"But without thy mind would I do nothing; that thy benefit should not be as it were of necessity, but willingly." Philemon 14
Cp. Heb 7:12, 27; 9:16; Jude 3
tarasso (v), "to stir up, to disturb; to trouble the mind; to alarm; to frighten; to throw into disorder"
"When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled..." Matt 2:3
"And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear." Matt 14:26
"For they all saw him, and were troubled. And immediately he talked with them, and saith unto them, Be of good cheer: it is I; be not afraid." Mark 6:50
"And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him." Luke 1:12
"And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts?" Luke 24:38
"But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled" 1 Peter 3:14
tarachei (n), "trouble, disorder, confusion"
"For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be earthquakes in divers places, and there shall be famines and troubles: these are the beginnings of sorrows." Mark 13:8
Cp. John 5:4
odunao (v), "to cause pain"; "to feel pain" (passive)"
"And when they saw him, they were amazed: and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing." Luke 2:48
"Sorrowing most of all for the words which he spake, that they should see his face no more." Acts 20:38a
Cp. Luke 16:24
Although we can't
depend on others to meet all our emotional needs, friends are a great
help.
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