Angela suffers from mild depression. It runs in her family and can worsen if not treated. She is being treated but wanted to spiritually address the way depression leads to to feeling hopeless. Intellectual, she knows that with God, nothing is beyond repair and healing. So, she wants to actively engage her faith in fighting depression.

Here are 5 ways to do just that:

1) Acknowledge the depression.  This is an important first step to get better. Rather than being anxious about the depression, identified it and realized others in the Bible, like King David, struggled with depression at times.

2) Trust God to help you. No matter how bad you feel some days, trust God to help you get through the day. Psalm 46:1 reminds us, “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.”

3) Praise God. Despite how bad you feel,  praise God despite the circumstances and followed Psalm 34:1. “I will extol the Lord at all times; his praise will always be on my lips.” Scripture reminds us to apply praise when we have a heavy heart.

4) Speak hope into your life. Psalm 39:7 says,  “But now, Lord, what do I look for?  My hope is in you.” No matter what, put your hope in God. 

5) Renew negative thoughts through the positive Word of God. Meditate on the goodness of God. Daily, take your thoughts captive and followed the prescription of Philippians 4:8: “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”

The next time you begin to feel depressed, pray….

“I am redeemed by the blood of Jesus. I am not under the curse. He came to redeem me.  I am the head, not the tail. I am above, not below, no weapon formed against me will prosper. Let the redeemed of the Lord, say so!”