Thank God for letting Rev Answered my email

It is good that you are able to share your problems and feelings with others. That is what you ought to do when you feel depressed. Some people just keep all their problems to themselves and let it build up until it becomes too great for them to bear.

There are a few things that you can do to help yourself get out of depression:

1. Try to recall all the good things that have happened to you in the past. Lay aside the unpleasant memories and focus instead on things which clearly show God's love, help and provision for you, e.g. your graduation day, those precious moments when you were blessed or encouraged by friends.

2. As you recall these things, bring yourself to say, "I thank you and praise you, Lord" for each of them. Praise and thanksgiving lifts your heart upward and helps you to come to terms with every situation in life.

3. Acknowledge that God is the Lord of your life. Let Him have every right to do as He pleases with you from now on. King Nebuchadnezzar emerged out of 7 years of mental illness only when he looked up to God, praised Him and surrendered himself to God (Please read Daniel 4:28-37 for the full account of this)

4. Ask God to give you His perfect peace to calm your troubled heart. Meditate on these words of God's promises of peace:

Isaiah 26:3 - "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee."

John 14:27 - "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."

John 16:33 - "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."

Philippians 4:6-7 - "Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."

Just as Jesus calmed the storm of the Sea of Galilee with the words, "Peace, be still" He can calm the storms in your heart. (see Mark 4:36-39)

5. Take a new notebook and jot down all your thoughts and feelings in it. Write them out like writing a letter to God, pouring out your soul to Him. Don't leave out anything that is troubling you. Tell Him honestly about any sin you have committed - admit all your mistakes to Him. The book of Lamentations in the Bible is such a record of Israel's sorrow, poured out to God.

A woman named Hannah was so burdened with personal trials that she could not eat. But she came to God's house and prayed to Him there and she was so intense in expressing her sorrow that the priest who saw her praying thought that she was drunk. But after she finished praying she left with a changed face - she was no more sad! and now she could eat. (Please read 1 Samuel 1:1-18 for the full account of this).

Geraldine, the way to get out of a downward spiral is to start taking some steps upward. Starting is always the hardest part to do. But once you get started, it becomes easier to take the next step.

The best thing you can do about people who make you feel worse or who have disappointed you because they have no empathy is to forgive them. Think of how Jesus forgave those who nailed Him to the cross (Luke 23:34) and Stephen forgave those who were stoning him to death (Acts 7:59,60). Forgiveness helps you to release yourself from being tormented by them.

If the breathing techniques you have learned from yoga do help you to sleep better at night, go ahead and use them. Better still, just before you apply these techniques, ask God to make them work for you. Good sleep is a gift from God (see Psalm 127:2).

May the Lord bless and help you.

in Christ,
Pastor Charles Seet