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Depression and Joy
PHI 1:4 "In all my prayers for all of you, I aways pray with Joy." NIV
Have you ever felt like the whole world was on your shoulders and you were the only one that had hurt this bad? Well you are not. When I think of all the hard work I have done in my life and have nothing to show for it, I sometimes think my life was a waste. Over 33 years I worked for one company averaging 65 hours a week and it took all the money I could make to take care for my three children and wife.
There came a time in my life when I lost everything material. I still had my wife and children at home but I had no home or job or money. Out of the blue my Minister offered to let us live in one of the church owned homes and slowly things begin to look better. I got a job that didn't pay much money but to me it was better than taking a hand out from the government. I could have done that 33 years earlier by taking Disability when I crushed my leg.
I have found that depression is the other side of Joy, so if you are thinking of things you have lost or things that you dont have, this will bring you depression. One could say don't think about them and they will be alright. But from time to time the old devil puts these thoughts in your mind, and we let them grow till we are depressed.
If bad thoughts make us depressed then good thoughts should give us joy. When this happens to me I think of the good times I have had with my wife and children till the bad thoughts are gone. When I think of one or all three of my children serving God it gives me joy or when I look into the faces of my grandchildren and see how much they look and act like my wife and me then I know my life is not a waste but a blessing.
Depression is only a state of mind and its your mind so take control .A psalm for giving thanks is Psalms 100:1 through 100:5!!!!