November 7, 2019
Anxiety and depression are on the rise. An estimated 40 million Americans suffer from one or both, that is about 18.1% of the US population alone! When I worked in healthcare, about 1 in 5 patients who came into the clinic had a history of anxiety. Little did these patients know that so did I. Not every person with anxiety develops depression, but many do. I will mainly focus on depression and suicide in this post. However, most of the points that I will address apply to anxiety as well.
We have a reason to be concerned with these numbers because many with depression never seek help and sadly end up taking their lives. Suicide is now the second leading cause of death in young people ages 13-29. This is alarming!
Almost daily we hear about another celebrity who took his/her life. And if we zoom in to our sphere, the cases are overwhelming. Depression can affect anyone. Christians are not immune to it and in fact, seem to be hard-hitting ministers themselves. With the recent suicide of pastor Jared Wilson (not to mention others that have not gained this much attention), we must take this seriously-depression and suicide are realities that cannot be ignored.
Science and medicine cannot explain why depression has increased exponentially and predict that the numbers will continue to rise each year.
The important question we need to ask ourselves is why? Why do many suffer from depression? And why this sudden epidemic? I will address several key reasons why depression keeps increasing, plausible causes, and what we as Christians can do if we are suffering from it ourselves or someone else.
I will be honest, I was not planning on writing this blog post. Mainly because it’s a very sensitive topic. I skirted this subject and tried to put it off but after reading and hearing what other Christians are saying about depression and suicide I was very concerned. There are lots of misconceptions and misinformation about depression. And this worried me too much to keep silent. Especially after seeing so many people suffer and are unable to find the freedom they need.
I will treat this topic with the utmost caution, sensitive to the hurt of those of you who are either going through depression/anxiety or have lost someone to suicide. I am thinking of you as I write this.
My goal with this post is to bring light to the truth about depression in hopes that those struggling with it, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts may come to the truth and find complete freedom in Christ.
The good news is that there IS freedom from depression!
Disclaimer: I am not a medical doctor, psychologist, or counselor, nor am I licensed to give medical advice. I urge the reader to seek medical help if he/she deems it necessary. Sure, medication may help in some cases but my first recommendation will always be to seek the Lord’s help first. You are at liberty to heed my recommendation or to dispel it. By reading this, the reader assumes full responsibility for his/her decisions. I don’t claim to know everything about depression. Don’t take what I say for granted, do your own research, and pray! Ask the Lord for wisdom, knowledge, and guidance.
Is Depression a Mental Illness?
The short answer to this question is no, depression is not a mental illness. Regardless of what science and medicine say, depression is not a sickness so we need to stop treating it like such. The partial reason why many people cannot seem to beat depression is because of their view of it. I’m sorry if this offends you but my biggest worry is that millions of people are living with depression thinking that there is no remedy because they’ve taken all the medications there are and have drained all of their pill bottles, yet see no improvement. I will take my chances against the naysayers if it means that this post can help at least one person find freedom from depression.
To the person suffering from depression; I’m sorry you’re in pain. I know that deep, dark emptiness you feel is so overwhelming you just want it to end. You want to be happy, you want to be joyful again. It doesn’t seem fair that everyone else is happy while you have to paste on a fake smile and say you’re fine when nothing is farther from the truth. I know because I’ve been there. But there is HOPE and there is FREEDOM. It is not God’s will that anyone should suffer from depression. You can be free and you WILL be free in Jesus’ Name! So even if you’re a skeptic, please continue reading.
You need to know that depression is not a chronic illness and it is not treatable with pills but you can find freedom from it like millions of people already have… as I did many years ago. If anything, medication can actually worsen depression. Depression is a side effect of some depression meds. Oh, the irony. If the situation weren’t serious this would be silly.
But the truth is, that depression is a spiritual attack of the enemy. And the only way to find freedom is through Christ- if you’re suffering from depression, you need deliverance, not pills. And it will take time, it’s a process. You don’t just wake up one day happy and full of joy. Although the Lord can wipe away depression in one instant (trust me, I’ve seen it happen) for most of us, it took time.
Don’t Believe What They Tell You
You also need to know that although doctors (many, not all) really want to help you. And they truly are convinced that medication is the only way to treat it. Most of us already know that pharma only cares about the big bucks. They don’t care if you’re sick and suffering. Pharma is wealthy and influential and keeping you sick keeps them in business. So they will lie and connive to make you believe that depression is an illness. You cannot trust what they tell you, in fact, please don’t. Do your own research, you will be shocked. Health caretakers benefit from the sick as well. So it’s in their best interest to keep you sick. This is one big reason why I left my career in healthcare.
Depression is mental hell, it is enslavement of the mind. No one should live with depression but sadly when the healthcare community declared it a “sickness” people just embraced it, cuddled it, and accepted the defeat. They gave credence to this lie and convinced themselves that they would just have to live with it. In a sense, depression can become an idol.
But I am telling you from the bottom of my heart, that it’s not true. You don’t have to live with depression for the rest of your days. There is freedom from depression.
The Bible tells us that the Truth will set us free (John 8:32b) yes, Jesus was talking about Himself but this also applies to the truth in general. As long as you keep on taking those pills, you are not free. In fact, taking those pills makes God a liar and forces you to put your trust in man rather than on God.
Don’t believe what they tell you, they are lying.
What is a Spiritual Attack?
There are several reasons why you may be suffering from depression. And believe it or not, you may be unwillingly causing them yourself.
But wait a minute, I thought you said depression is a spiritual attack?
Well, yes it is, but the enemy operates in many ways. He studies you intently to find the best way to attack you. The enemy is astute and will use your weaknesses, ignorance, and life situations to make his move.
I want to re-emphasize my stance; anxiety and depression are not mental disorders regardless of what science says. I’ve read all about it and thoroughly disagree for many reasons. I stated earlier that depression is a spiritual attack. Notice I said attack, not possession. They are very different from each other.
Demonic possession is when the enemy has taken total control of a person’s body. The person in most cases is unaware of what she/he is doing or saying. The Bible talks about a demon-possessed man who ran around naked by the tombs. Jesus ultimately liberated him from the demons (Mark 5:1-20). When a person is demon-possessed they have no control over themselves and the demons use his/her mouth to speak as they did with this man in Mark.
Demonic oppression/spiritual attack, on the other hand, is different. A person who is spiritually oppressed has command of his/ her body but they are being attacked by evil forces they have no control over. These can have negative influences on your thoughts and actions and lower the quality of life but they cannot control you. This can happen in the form of sickness, war, human evil, social issues, persecution, anxiety, depression, etc. One Scriptural example of demonic oppression is Job. You all probably know his story well, but if you don’t I recommend you go ahead and read it here.
And if we search the Scriptures we will find countless more individuals who experienced oppression from the enemy through spiritual attacks.
I have lived with social anxiety for most of my life and underwent a depressive phase in my teens. From personal experience, careful study of Scripture, and witnessing others go through depression I have concluded that depression is caused by at least six different reasons (by no means is this an exhaustive list). And the only way to be free is through liberation by the Holy Spirit in Jesus’ Name.
Without further ado, here are the 6 biggest reasons why you may be suffering from depression.
Traumatic Experiences & Hard Times
The most common and obvious reason for depression is trauma. Childhood abuse, marital abuse, death of a loved one, rape, poverty, homelessness, accidents, infertility, and loneliness are just a few I can think off the top of my head. These are pretty understandable. If I lost a loved one, I could very easily fall into depression. While it’s normal and healthy to mourn the death of a loved one it is not okay to fall into a deep depression that stretches into years or even decades. We cannot control these terrible events and the enemy causes most of these. We are very vulnerable in these situations and the enemy takes advantage.
If you have suffered any traumatic experience cry out to God. No one else can help you, no one else can understand you 100%. Please do not allow the enemy to do whatever he will with you. Give your hurt and pain to the Lord. He will comfort you and heal your pain. Scripture says that,
“The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”
(John 10:10)
Only the Lord can cut through the layers of depression and make you whole again. Medicine will never do that. Medicine will only numb your emotions. But God can and will set you free when you seek Him.
“Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.”
(Psalm 42:11)
If you have suffered abuse and rape, the enemy wants to make you feel unloved, unwanted and tainted because you’re too precious and worthy and beautiful and he is trying to make you feel like you are not. Don’t allow him to get into your head.
Give it all to God and talk to a mature Christian you trust. Never feel ashamed, it’s not your fault. And don’t underestimate how much talking to a caring and loving person can help you. Allow this trusted person to pray with and for you. You need deliverance from this oppression and you need other Christians to pray for you.
Illness
All illness is caused by the enemy. God never makes you sick, but He may allow the enemy to make you sick. It is also very understandable that illness can cause depression, especially chronic illness. There are way too many chronic illnesses to name here but I just want to clarify that although chronic illnesses are mostly incurable, God can heal. I’m not saying that everyone who has a chronic illness will be healed but that doesn’t mean that God can’t heal. Sometimes, the Lord allows certain people to live with chronic illness and He has His reasons for that. (If interested, read this blog post about Chronic Illness).
But there are illnesses that can cause depression. Hormonal imbalance, obesity, and heavy metals are just a couple I can think of. Some of these may require medical attention. In these cases, I would urge you to seek medical care.
According to statistics, more women tend to suffer from depression than men. I believe that part of the reason for this is hormonal imbalance. Women produce more stress hormones than men. PMS, pregnancy, perimenopause, and menopause produce higher levels of stress hormones which in turn may cause depression. Postpartum depression occurs with hormonal fluctuations. Though not optimal, these are all normal so they go away naturally.
Heavy metals in the body may also cause depression. Lead, aluminum, and mercury can easily make their way into the bloodstream through several carriers.
- Lead is found in some canned goods and pottery. Pay attention to the food labels and do some research before purchasing canned food. Do not cook with pots or pans made from clay as they may contain high levels of lead.
- Dialysis patients have 10-50 times more aluminum in their bodies than is normal. Aluminum is found in some cookware, tap water, salts found in processed foods, spices, antiperspirants, and deodorants. Don’t use aluminum cookware, refrain from drinking tap water (it’s disgusting anyway). Unless you have the means to buy all organic food it’s pretty difficult not to eat processed foods once in a while unless you grow your own. Detoxify your body with detoxes, supplements and add antioxidant fruits and veggies (like berries and greens) to your diet. Don’t use antiperspirants, use aluminum-free deodorants.
- Mercury is found in many every-day items. Over the counter meds like antiseptics, ointments, laxatives, and eye drops may contain mercury. It is also found in some cosmetics, fluorescents light bulbs, fabric softeners, floor polishes, paint, dye, and tattoos. Seafood items like tuna, shellfish, and seaweed absorb and store high concentrations of mercury. Vaccines contain high amounts of heavy metals including mercury, aluminum, and other toxins. I have done a lot of research on vaccines and would not recommend them to anyone, not even the flu shot. Do your own research without prejudice and preconceived ideas on vaccines and make a decision for yourself but no one can deny that vaccines contain harmful metals and toxins that should not be in the human body.
(Watch this interview with a medical doctor exposing the truth about vaccines)
Take care of your temple! Some illnesses are caused by factors out of our control but others are caused by our lack of knowledge and poor food choices. Glorify the Lord in the body through healthy eating and abstaining from harmful substances.
“What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.”
(1 Corinthians 6:19-20)
Bad Habits & Idols
The worst habit a Christian could ever indulge in is a lack of prayer, worship, and Bible study. We leave the door wide open for the enemy to attack us when we are not in constant communion with the Lord.
“Be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary the devil walketh about as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.”
(1 Peter 5:8)
Prayer is a powerful weapon of spiritual warfare. Would you go into war without a shield, armor, and a sword? Of course not! You’d be signing up for death if you didn’t. It’s the same way with prayer and the Word.
“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints”
(Ephesians 6:10-18)
But instead of prayer and Bible reading, we tend to gravitate towards entertainment and idolatry. We are living during a time of deep spiritual laziness. We exchange the prayer closet for T.V. concerts, movies, video games, and the list goes on. Christians don’t want to fight the good fight anymore they just want to be entertained. They want to feed their flesh and starve the Spirit instead of starving the flesh and feeding the Spirit.
If you don’t believe me just look at today’s Christians! Millennial and Z-gen Christians do not know God and do not know Scripture. They can’t explain who God is, but they can sing you an entire Katy Perry album. They can’t look up a Scripture reference without looking at the table of contents but they can summarize the last season of Game of Thrones (with details). These Christians can’t tell you a single thing God has done in their lives but can reach number one on the latest Halo scoreboard.
And we still ask why so many Christians are coming down with depression?! The Spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.
“Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity; and quicken thou me in thy way.”
(Psalm 119:37)
To top it off, other bad habits like lack of sleep and gluttony & eating junk food, which more often than not, accompany those mentioned above are also causes of depression. How can depression NOT take ahold of us when we are worshipping ourselves? The Spirit knows its purpose and will fall into Spiritual depression if it lacks the fulfillment which can only be found in Christ.
If you are guilty of any of these, repent, ask the Lord for help, change your habits, and spend more time with the Lord. Watch what happens.
Sin
This takes me to sin. Yes, we all sin, there’s no way to escape it. There is not a single person who doesn’t sin and who doesn’t continue to sin even after being saved. However, habitual sin; unforgiveness, bitterness, addictions, pride, sexual immorality, unbelief, rebellion, and idolatry to name a few, can all cause depression. The problem with these sins is that they can be subtle and turn into addictions.
Is there someone whom you haven’t forgiven? Do you have secret sins? Are you addicted to sexual sins such as fornication, adultery, masturbation, pornography, and lust? All of these can cause depression and the only way to be freed is through total repentance, complete surrender to God, and complete turn away from your current life.
Many people who suffer from “chronic” depression have a huge list of medications they take and see zero results because they haven’t dealt with the real culprit; themselves. I believe that most cases of depression are caused because of unconfessed sins.
Ask the Lord to reveal hidden sins in your life and heart. Sometimes we sin without even knowing and these are dangerous so it’s crucial and necessary that we are in constant communion with the Lord.
“He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.”
(Proverbs 28:13)
Beliving Lies
I believe this one is a common cause of depression amongst teens and young adults. I struggled throughout my teens with this one. Low self-esteem caused by comparison both physically and mentally is a big one for teens. It can also affect older adults but I see it more often in the youth.
Looking to others for validation, perfectionism, vanity, and laying our eyes on others instead of on God. I felt very worthless as a teen, I felt like I couldn’t do anything right, that something was wrong with me. The enemy kept whispering into my ear that I was better off dead because I was so worthless.
Like I said earlier, when you’re low on prayer, the enemy takes advantage and will use your weakness against you. In my case, I had very high expectations for myself and on top of that, I was a perfectionist. I had to perform almost perfectly in school and in all academic areas or else I felt like a complete failure. The enemy used this against me to plant thoughts of worthlessness in my mind. I knew it wasn’t true but there was no way that I could fight these thoughts on my own. It wasn’t until I surrendered myself to God that I was freed. I have not been depressed ever since.
Bullying is a big one. Bullies are puppets of the enemy to get to the weaker kids in school who believe all those lies. Parents need to pray for their kids against these Spiritual attacks. The bullies will not stop with physical discipline because our fight is not against flesh and blood but against the powers and principalities of this world’s darkness (Ephesians 6:12).
The young ladies who waste so much time reading Vogue, watching the Kardashians, caking their faces with makeup and looking in the mirror, need to be liberated from self-idolatry and vanity. Or the enemy will use this as a weapon against them when they look nothing like those models. They will fall prey to depression, obsession, and eating disorders.
“Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.”
(Proverbs 4:23)
At the heart of the problem are pride, idolatry, and rebellion. We wouldn’t fall into these traps if our hearts were not first inclined to these and if we sought God’s heart earnestly.
“And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”
(Romans 12:2)
You Bring the Spirit of Depression Into Your Home
I left this one for the last because it’s the most subtle yet, the easiest way to bring depression into your home. I’ll probably step on some toes with this one but it’s VERY important that I mention this because the enemy likes to use ignorance.
I don’t know how much you believe or know about the Spiritual world but it’s very real. The evil spirit of depression can get into your home through movies, books, music, T.V. clothing, relics, figurines, video games, anime, jewelry, and much more. Many companies that produce these have satanic pacts in order to be successful. In exchange for money and success, these companies offer their merchandise to satan.
I can already see some of you shaking your heads thinking me gullible and daft. But do your own research. People who have worked in these industries but later accept Christ have testified to the validity of this. (Watch this ex-video game developer expose the dark side of video games)
When you bring these items to your house you may well be bringing depression into your house along with other evil spirits.
Not all books, music, movies, et. al. are evil but most are. You need to pray before making these purchases and ask the Lord for discernment, wisdom, and understanding. Christians are either skeptic or too lazy to pray, that’s why so many of them are in bondage and have no idea!
Christians, pray for your house! Pray for your kids one by one, putting your hands on them. Pray for your spouse, pray for each other. Rebuke all demons in Jesus’ Name, especially the demon of depression. Ask the Lord to show you which things you need to get rid of around the house. If you do this, I guarantee you, the depression will disappear.
Casting out demons, and demonic possession of items is not new and neither is it a “Biblical times thing.” It’s still very real today.
What Will You Do Now?
I have talked (or rather written) too much now. Please pray and seek the Lord’s revelation about depression if nothing else. Don’t believe anything I say- do your own research, BE INFORMED. Hosea 4:6 says that the people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Yes, this verse is referring to the law of the Lord, but people are lost and destroyed for lack of knowledge in general. Just look at the number of suicides that take place every year because people suffering from depression didn’t know they could be free.
No, depression is not a mindset, you cannot just switch it off but it’s not a mental illness either. You can do something about it and you can help someone who is depressed.
You can be free in Christ, nowhere else, you won’t find the cure in pills but in God and His Holy Word. This is the answer to all your problems. Give it a try.
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