Five Action Steps to Overcome Depression

This year, I determined that winter’s seclusion would not get the best of me. I was confident that I would keep the devastating depression at bay—an emotional trespasser that had previously wreaked havoc in my life.

Under the influence of Satan’s lies that I am unlovable, not of value, or incapable, I once convinced myself that depression’s paralyzing affliction was what I deserved. Since then, God has performed extensive healing on my unseen wounds, and through counseling, I have gained healthy coping and boundary-setting skills. With the appropriate toolkit and God-given protection, I would never feel that way again.

And then the heavy weight of masked depression hit, and I felt it slowly covering me. I never stopped reading God’s Word or praying. My desire to follow His lead was sincere, yet I still reached a point where everything required more effort than I had to give. But this time was different. Satan not only had to fight harder than before, but he also lost the battle earlier.

It’s not failure; it’s growth.

Looking back, I can see when the depression started. I know the new moments that collided with my pain-filled memories, triggering my emotional discord. I recognize the lies I believed and unintentionally held onto.

My initial reaction to experiencing this depressive episode was disappointment and feeling as if I had failed. Those feelings were also short-lived because you know what – I had not failed. I experienced growth! Growth in my faith, my ability to persevere through trials, and implementing action steps I’d learned over the years in therapy. It wasn’t perfect, but my growth was significant.

Overcoming Depression

You’ve probably been here, too: a place where you know God’s love and trust in His abilities, yet somehow, you feel distant from Him. Satan wants that; it’s the reason he likes to poke at our vulnerable wounds. Satan’s attempts are so sly that we don’t even realize our focus shifts to our suffering instead of to the One who can give us a reprieve.

 

Here are five action steps that help me fight against depression:

 

1. Acknowledge it. Our feelings are genuine, and it’s okay to recognize them. We can experience our emotions and acknowledge the reason behind them. Choosing to face our feelings allows us the opportunity to give them to God and ask Him to fight for us against the enemy’s attacks (Psalm 34:18).

 

2.   Pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17, ESV). Our Heavenly Father welcomes our tears. His ability to pour joy into our pain is far above what we can comprehend. Listening to God is an antidote to my heartache. Here is a prayer I pray when my words fall short: “Dear Jesus, I don’t have words right now, but my heart is hurting. Please sit with me for a while and talk to me. I’m listening.”  He always knows what to do with my hurting heart.

 

3.   Talk about it. Shame and fear are Satan’s tactics to silence us and convince us to bury our hurts. When we talk it out with someone we can trust, we have a soundboard, a truth pourer, and a prayer warrior. God encourages us to carry each other’s burdens (Galatians 6:2), enabling us to share our burdens guilt-free!

 

4.   Give thanks. Gratitude shifts our thoughts and points our hearts to God. Whatever our circumstances, we can still find reasons to be thankful; we must only look. Give thanks and see what God does with your grateful heart! (1 Thessalonians 5:18). 

 

5.   Do something you enjoy. Facing your pain can be exhausting; now, fill your cup! Do something you enjoy, something you put off doing because depression holds you back. God intended us to enjoy our lives (Ecclesiastes 9:9).

 

I pray these action steps will be a helpful addition to your mental and spiritual health toolkit. Instead of allowing despair to hold us down, let’s stand in victory with our Almighty Overcomer!