How to combat depression and live to tell about it
By Katie Brazelton, Ph.D. and Candace Giesbrecht
We’ve all seen that book – the one that “would be perfect for my friend,” the book that would really help that friend of mine who is struggling with her husband … her mother …her children … her grief … her depression …. her anger … her financial troubles. But what do you do when you’re the one who is struggling?
Maybe you’ve always been the one who people go to for help or the one who people thought had it all together. Maybe it’s even your job or ministry position to be the “helper.” We know this story well. Even though we are at different ages and stages of life and have lived in different countries, we share this experience. We both have been blessed to have so much going well for us and yet have simultaneously felt shriveled and dried inside – like darkness was overtaking us from the inside out. Suddenly, the things that used to bring joy fell flat and daily tasks became a huge endeavor. We know what it’s like to try to pray more, “go deeper,” listen to praise and worship music, to do the things we “helpers” tell others to do, and yet still feel consumed with hopelessness.
If you are in this place right now (or have been in the past), you know what we’re talking about. Here is our five “s” program that has helped us. It may help you or someone you love:
Five “s” program to combat depression
1. Sound the alert. Remember Star Trek? When the captain called, “Red alert,” the entire crew would drop whatever they were doing at the time to immediately look at how they, individually and collectively, could protect each other, themselves, and the ship. Their very survival depended on it. It can be so tempting to put this off, to say that things aren’t really that bad, and to minimize the risks of how you are feeling. Don’t do it! As quickly as possible, identify one person or group of people who you can tell and ask for support. Take it from us, the benefits of letting someone help you far outweigh the risks. The Bible says, “… so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.” (Rom. 12:5 NIV) and “If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.” (1 Cor. 12:26 NIV) Reaching out to others when we’re in pain is not just a good idea, it’s the way God intended things.
2. Simplify. Whatever can be moved, postponed, delegated, or deleted from your schedule must go! It sounds so easy, doesn’t it? But what about letting people down? What will people think? Not everyone in your life will agree with the decisions you make in doing this, but Scripture teaches us that taking steps to order your life according to what pleases God first and people second is one of the most significant things you can do. “Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.” (Gal. 1:10 NIV) This will not only free up your mind, body, and spirit to heal whatever wounds you have right now, but continuing to do so on a daily basis will help to prevent many kinds of crises in the future.
3. Solidify. Do a “house inspection,” and check for cracks in the foundation of your life. Are there things from your past that you have not dealt with? Are there aspects of your faith that you have adopted, but never really taken the time to understand? Are there sins you have not repented of or offenses that you have not made right? Jesus teaches about the importance of having a solid foundation in him, both as the Savior and Lord of our lives. Matthew 7:25 (NIV) reads, “The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.” Enlist the help of a trusted Christian friend or leader to help you with this, as needed. Sometimes repairing the cracks in the foundation of your life – whether it pertains to your salvation, your sin life, or your surrender to Christ – can be just what you need to get through a difficult season.
4. Sanctify. In 1 Thessalonians 5:23 (NIV), Paul writes to the young church at Thessalonica and to all believers, “May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” God wants to be the head of every part of us and it is only through him that we can be purified and set apart for his use. Even if it seems as though he is distant, it’s up to us to obey whether we feel like it or not, whether we see any results or not. Intentionally going to God with the request to be sanctified, especially during times of struggle, will help to carry you through.
5. Surrender. Are you living a surrendered life? Or, have you been keeping a running list of the things you know you need to hand over to God, but haven’t found the time to do it yet? Romans 12:1 (MSG) says, “Take your everyday, ordinary life, your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life – and place it before God as an offering.” Surrender needs to happen hour by hour and day by day. It is a matter of trusting that God can do a better job with whatever it is that is causing you to feel happy/sad, despairing/hopeful, or excited/fearful.
We are blessed to have our Heavenly Father, who will not only help us combat depression, but he will help us live to tell others about it – all to his glory. He promises never to waste a hurt and has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” (Heb. 13:5)
— Published on www.purposedrivenlife.com
About Katie Brazelton, Ph.D.
Dr. Katie Brazelton, Ph.D., M.Div., M.A., is the author of the runaway-selling, Pathway to Purpose™ for Women series (four books and an audio), with her recent, best-selling anchor book being translated into eight languages. She is the founder of Life Purpose Coaching Centers, International®, the new international training vehicle for Christian women to become Life Purpose Telephone Coaches® and intensive, two-day life purpose facilitators. For years prior to Katie’s book series’ launch in 2005, she was director of women’s Bible studies, director of Golden Gate Theological Seminary, and a licensed minister, all at Saddleback 
Church.