Overcoming Depression

I am convinced that one the greatest weapons that satan uses to hinder us in our pursuits of happiness is depression.  Not necessarily clinical depression or the kind that requires professional and medical treatment. But a more subtle kind that is akin to the blues.  I have discovered that if this is left unchecked, it can move us into some devastating circumstances.  These circumstances include doubt, fear, closing ourselves off from others, bitterness and anxiety.   Any one of these things alone is enough to slow us down or impair our ability to move forward, but if they are coupled together, then we really have some problems.

When I read the bible' I find that many of the people that were greatly used by God had times of deep depression.  Kind David was one such individual and the book of psalms points this out repeatedly.  However, David encouraged himself and we can conclude that since he was a musician and a poet that he used the arts to help lift him from his depression.  He clearly used the power of prayer because the psalms are a culmination of many of those prayers.

When I have been confronted with depression, I have used music and the arts to help me in my relief.  We are so rich with music and art in our world and if we would just take some steps to go out and see a play, read some poetry, listen to some good soul stirring gospel music; and I won't just limit it to gospel music because I have been set free by soul music, jazz and at times even the blues.  Music, its words and melodies can ease a burdened soul.

Great acting can draw us into the script, feel the joy and exuberance of the actors and help us to forget our own sorrows.  Some plays I have watched through tear stained eyes because the person in the play was experiencing just what I was going through and at the depths of their pain I cried tears of pain and at the height of their success, I cried tears of joy.  But the end result is, I walked away free.

So if today, you are feeling a bit depressed, don't sit there in it.  If you are reading this blog you already have a window to a world that can assist in relieving your burdens.  Go to You tube, go to God tube and listen to some good uplifting music.  Google search: "beautiful stories of how people overcame great tragedies" and read some heart warming testimonies,   Watch plays and programs right on your computer that will lift you.  Write a friend on Facebook whom you have left unattended for too long.

But don't stay depressed.  Life is too short and inside us all are pearls of great price waiting to be shared with the world.

This song below will help you understand that Someday We Will All Be Free!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cv1B0ejhFVE

Be Blessed.