The Dominance and Deceit of Depression - Part One

“I am troubled; I am bowed down greatly; I go mourning all the day long. For my loins are filled with a loathsome disease: and there is no soundness in my flesh. I am feeble and sore broken: I have roared by reason of the disquietness of my heart.” Psalm 38:6-8 (KJV, emphasis mine)

This week, I am directed to visit a difficult and divisive topic in the Body of Christ. My objective is to open our hearts and minds to what the Word of God declares about depression. By His grace and the leading of His Spirit I am seeking oneness with God and His Word with respect to depression. We know that it is God’s Word and His Spirit that places us in a position to understand and exercise wisdom in the most challenging concerns as well as additional complexities with which life confronts us.

“With him is wisdom and strength, he hath counsel and understanding.” Job 12:13 (KJV, emphasis mine)

“But there is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding.” Job 32:8 (KJV, emphasis mine)

“I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.” Psalm 32: 8 (KJV, emphasis mine)

“For the Lord giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.” Proverbs 2:6 (KJV, emphasis mine)

“For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life…” Proverbs 6:23 (KJV, emphasis mine)

Before we begin lets consider the three “d” words in the title as well as some additional terms.  This will be beneficial in charting our path as we process a spiritual position (not a secular position) on depression.

Dominance: to rule, control, authority and ascendancy

Deceit: the act or practice of deceiving, concealment or distortion of the truth for the purpose of misleading.

Depression: (according to Psychiatry) a condition of general emotional dejection and withdrawal; sadness greater and prolonged than that warranted by any objective reason.
In Psychological, Clinical and mental health professional circles, depression is conventionally diagnosed as clinical depression. This type of depression is so severe it is considered abnormal, either because of no obvious environmental causes, or because the reaction to unfortunate life circumstances is more intense or prolonged than would generally be expected.

Psychology: the science of the mind or of mental states and processes.

Science: (Latin-“Scientia”) having knowledge. A branch of knowledge that is an object of study, especially natural science knowledge covering general truths or the operation of general laws especially as obtained and tested through the scientific method.

Scientific method: the rules and methods for the pursuit of knowledge involving the finding and stating of a problem and the collection of facts through observation and experiment, and the making and testing of ideas that need to be proven right or wrong.

Mind: 1. Memory; 2. The part of the individual that feels perceives, thinks, wills, and especially reasons; 3. Intention and desire; 4. Normal, mental condition; 5. Opinion, view; 6. Mood; 7. Intellectual ability

Now at this time I would like to commend your patience for reviewing all of these terms and definitions. However, again this is necessary to navigate through this topic. Processing the aforementioned terms and definitions can produce the following questions.

  • Who establishes and enjoys implementation and authority over the rules?
  • Who and what authority created and certifies the criteria?
  • How do we acquire knowledge and what is its absolute source?
  • Does secular science supersede or suspend the authority of Scripture?
  • Should one practice information-processing in a spiritual disposition or secular mindset?

Hear the Word of God:

“Shall any teach God knowledge? seeing he judgeth those that are high.” Job 21:22 (KJV)

“For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O Lord, thou knowest it altogether. Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.” Psalm 139:4-6 (KJV)

“Who hath directed the Spirit of the Lord, or being his counsellor hath taught him?  With whom took he counsel, and who instructed him, and taught him in the path of judgment, and taught him knowledge, and shewed to him the way of understanding?” Isaiah 40:13-14 (KJV)

“O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!” Romans 11:33 (KJV)

Join me again next week as we look more into the dominance and deceit of depression as well as examine the kind of mind that depression seeks to dominate and deceive.

For the Glory of God,

PBKSR

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