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| A terrible choice |
Depression is a terrible malady that murders the soul and ruins lives. It holds its victims in an emotional vice-grip that's often difficult--if not impossible to escape.
Since the advent of humanistic psychology in the 19th century, depression has arguably become the greatest enemy of the human psyche. Billions of dollars have been spent on research and treatments for this nemesis.
While progress has been made--some causes of depression are biological--it still remains a very serious problem.
What is depression? It's a general feeling of hopelessness that's fueled by a number of factors such as defeatism, fear of the unknown, fear of failure, anxiety and a terrible self-image.
While the body's failure to produce sufficient levels of serotonin is a biological cause of depression, its emotional causes are deeply rooted in sin and mankind's separation from God.
How so? Is religion the answer to happiness and emotional well-being? Hardly. Human beings were created by God to have a personal relationship with Him. However, sin separated the human race from God and forced human beings to become dependent upon themselves rather than God.
Though that may sound hollow and trite to some folks, it isn't. Unless you've been born again through faith in Jesus Christ, you can't possibly even begin to understand what it means to know God personally and have fellowship with Him.
I know because I was once there. I viewed the universe as an empty place that lacked design, purpose and meaning. I believed that life had no purpose beyond the temporary gratification of the flesh. To me, hope was useless and valueless.
When you grow up and are indoctrinated into the lies of atheistic Darwinism via America's public educational system, you see absolutely no value in life and no purpose or reason for the universe. That's extremely depressing.
And when you're exposed to moribund religious systems that offer no answers as to why evil exists and where it came from, you become disillusioned and depressed.
And when you look at a chaotic world that's drowning in evil, you wonder whether God even exists. A world with any reason, clarity or justice is indeed a very miserable place.
Many folks grew up with the idea that happiness is to be found in vast wealth and material possessions. And many folks who achieved great wealth discovered otherwise. It was the late Charles Colson, the founder of Prison Fellowship who said it best: "The only advantage that a rich person has over a poor person is the knowledge that money doesn't buy happiness."
Indeed, it doesn't. No one can find true, permanent happiness and joy apart from Jesus Christ. The Bible says this: "And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:7)
The apostle Paul wrote this: "For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong." (2 Corinthians 12:10)
And Paul wrote this: "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God." (2 Corinthians 1:3-4)
And the apostle Peter wrote this: "Cast all your anxiety on him (Christ) because he cares for you." (1 Peter 5:7)
To the many folks who are feeling hopeless and helpless, I urge you to turn to Christ. Ask Him to come into your life and allow Him to solve your problems. Trust me--He will.
Don't wallow in self pity and please don't ever contemplate suicide because that has eternal ramifications. (1 Corinthians 3:17)
Just give Christ a chance. He'll never let you down. Trust me on that because I was once there.
While the body's failure to produce sufficient levels of serotonin is a biological cause of depression, its emotional causes are deeply rooted in sin and mankind's separation from God.
How so? Is religion the answer to happiness and emotional well-being? Hardly. Human beings were created by God to have a personal relationship with Him. However, sin separated the human race from God and forced human beings to become dependent upon themselves rather than God.
Though that may sound hollow and trite to some folks, it isn't. Unless you've been born again through faith in Jesus Christ, you can't possibly even begin to understand what it means to know God personally and have fellowship with Him.
I know because I was once there. I viewed the universe as an empty place that lacked design, purpose and meaning. I believed that life had no purpose beyond the temporary gratification of the flesh. To me, hope was useless and valueless.
When you grow up and are indoctrinated into the lies of atheistic Darwinism via America's public educational system, you see absolutely no value in life and no purpose or reason for the universe. That's extremely depressing.
And when you're exposed to moribund religious systems that offer no answers as to why evil exists and where it came from, you become disillusioned and depressed.
And when you look at a chaotic world that's drowning in evil, you wonder whether God even exists. A world with any reason, clarity or justice is indeed a very miserable place.
Many folks grew up with the idea that happiness is to be found in vast wealth and material possessions. And many folks who achieved great wealth discovered otherwise. It was the late Charles Colson, the founder of Prison Fellowship who said it best: "The only advantage that a rich person has over a poor person is the knowledge that money doesn't buy happiness."
Indeed, it doesn't. No one can find true, permanent happiness and joy apart from Jesus Christ. The Bible says this: "And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:7)
The apostle Paul wrote this: "For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong." (2 Corinthians 12:10)
And Paul wrote this: "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God." (2 Corinthians 1:3-4)
And the apostle Peter wrote this: "Cast all your anxiety on him (Christ) because he cares for you." (1 Peter 5:7)
To the many folks who are feeling hopeless and helpless, I urge you to turn to Christ. Ask Him to come into your life and allow Him to solve your problems. Trust me--He will.
Don't wallow in self pity and please don't ever contemplate suicide because that has eternal ramifications. (1 Corinthians 3:17)
Just give Christ a chance. He'll never let you down. Trust me on that because I was once there.
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