Dealing With The Spirit of Depression and Suicidal Thoughts

Depression, and suicidal thoughts are normal things because life is made up of negatives and positives. We may laugh today and cry tomorrow. We may fail today and succeed tomorrow. Inexplicable joy and peace may fill our hearts at some point and suddenly, profound sorrow and immeasurable pains may come into our life in the next minute. Handling the positives of life is never a problem.

Being depressed can make you feel helpless. It can create an avenue of satanic voice to dominate your sub-conscious mind. A very depressed person would one day have a feeling of taking his or her life due to frustrations. For example, when you’re depressed, you may feel like you can’t accomplish anything in life. That makes you feel worse about yourself and the dream God has committed into you. Of course, There are an increased number of people in Lagos that have died due to suicidal thoughts. Sometimes, the devil can make them feel like committing suicide is the best option. But as a Christian, we should not succumb to these demonic attacks. Let me tell you something: I, Evangelist Joshua had lived a depressed life one time, that has caused serious inferiority complex.

It is true that the foundation we found ourselves, and our upbringing are not helping matters. The kind of friends that have neglected us due to the state of our lives is not an encouraging state. However, the problem in our foundation have given room for all kind of depression and setbacks. I know of a lady in my former house environment that killed herself through insecticide because her husband is dating another man.  Depression is a normal thing that happens to almost everyone and suicidal thoughts is not a common experience. To a Christian person, the state of being depressed can rob them of their blessings, thereby causing an imbalance in their mind.

Dealing with depression requires action and the action is needed from people, but taking action when you’re depressed can be hard. Sometimes, just thinking about the things you should do to feel better, like loving back a person or spending time with friends, can seem exhausting or impossible to put into action.

The main problem is how to handle the negative sides of life. Many people have committed suicide, led themselves to the dungeon of bad health, or wasted their lives on hard drugs, alcohol, and sex, because they couldn’t handle the forces of depression and suicidal thoughts. But, those who fall off the ledge in moments of tough challenges and unbearable sorrow didn’t really do anything wrong. They weren’t the first to do that and they certainly won’t be the last.  You may feel too exhausted to talk, or to know the next thing to do. You may be ashamed at your situation, or guilty for neglecting certain relationships or career. But this is just the depression talking. Staying connected to other people and taking part in social activities will make a world of difference in your mood and outlook.

In the Bible, there are many examples of people who became suicidal when the crushing negatives of life stared them in the face.

Moses was an uncommon servant of God whom God imbued with more than the spirit of 70 elders (Numbers 11: 16-25), but when tough challenges came, he begged for death (Numbers 11:13-15). Similarly Elijah— a prophet who was so anointed that he didn’t see death (chariot of fire took him to Heaven) — begged God for death when Jezebel made life unbearable for him and even promised to quickly kill him (1 Kings 19:1-4).

Elijah said:  “I have had enough, LORD”. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.” When Job lost every single thing that gives him joy (his seven sons and three daughters, many servants, wife, and his seven thousand sheep; three thousand camels; and five hundred yoke of oxen; and five hundred female donkeys) he suffered deep depression and said things that showed he had suicidal thoughts (Job 3:11, Job 3:26, and Job 10:1 ).

Even Jesus, the Son of God; Author and Finisher of our Faith; and Messiah of the World, wished He doesn’t have to go through His predestined sorrow, pain, and eventual painful death. In Gethsemane, Jesus prayed three times asking over and over again if God could “let the cup pass” from Him.

What negatives of life are you fighting right now? Did you lose your job? Did you lose a loved one? Are you neck-deep in huge debts? Is your business dying? Do you feel lonely because you were rejected by people who should be with you and care for you? Do you think you are a failure because you have failed repeatedly? Did you lose everything you have labored hard for many years to gather? Do you feel taking your life or harming yourself is the ultimate solution?

Moses, Elijah, and Job overcame suicidal thoughts, and depression and they went down in history as some of the greatest men. After His depression and sorrow, Jesus conquered death to give you ultimate victory over the world.

Whatever negative of life is fighting you, I want you to know Jesus has already won that battle for you. Your Saviour is the Greatest! Your Saviour is the ultimate positive ever-present solution. Don’t listen to those voices in your head that tell you that you should just take your own life because you will never win the battle against the negatives of life. Don’t listen to those voices that tell you that you have lost the battle. They lied!

Listen to Jesus— the voice of truth.  Don’t let depression and suicidal thoughts win. Run to the Mercy Seat where Jesus is calling.  You can’t do it on your own; let Jesus help you.

Gems from the Word of God to Comfort and Strengthen You

 Isaiah 41:10

Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

• Jeremiah 29:11

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of     peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

• 1 John 4:4

Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

• Psalm 55:22

Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the   righteous to be moved.

• Joshua 1:9

Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.

• Psalm 34:18-19

The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivereth him out of them all.

• Psalm 9:9

The Lord also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble.

• Romans 8:2

For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

• Deuteronomy 31:8

And the Lord, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsakes thee: fear not, neither be dismayed.

• Lamentations 3:31-62

For the Lord will not cast off for ever: But though he causes grief, yet will he have compassion according to the multitude of his mercies. . . .

 Prayer Points

Instruction: Give your life to Christ if you are yet to. And if you have already done that a long time ago, you may want to re-dedicate your life to Christ. Read Psalms of praises (Psalms 95, 98, 103, 104, 136, 145, etc) and sing this hymn with joy “I Have Found a Friend in Jesus”.

Pray these prayers with all your heart.

1. My Father; My Maker, silence every evil voice telling me to commit su
2. In the name of Jesus, I will not use my destiny in the grave.
3. In the name of Jesus, I command every strong man tormenting me with depression to die suddenly.
4. Shout this loud and clear: Joy of the Lord! Joy of the Lord! Joy of the Lord! Fill my heart in the name of Jesus!
5. My life, hear the Word of My Creator and receive a divine turnaround in the name of Jesus.
6. You spirit of frustration, depression, and suicide assigned to lead me to the grave, you are a liar! Die by the lightening, thunder, and brimstone of heaven in the name of Jesus.
7. In the name of Jesus, my obituary will not be my source of fame in the name of Jesus.
8. In the name of Jesus, the peace of God is in my heart! (Declare it loud and clear with conviction 7 times)
9. You demonic storm raging loud and violently in my life, business, marriage, career, family, health, and finances, I end you today by the power that made the Heaven and Earth!
10. Every power that wants my loved ones to shed sorrowful tears because of me, you are a liar! Die in the name of Jesus.
11. In the name of Jesus, I will not run mad!
12. You spirit of madness sent to disgrace me and destroy my life, the power of God arrests you today. Die in the name of Jesus!
13. O God! Arise in your infinite mercy and do what no man can do in my life.
14. My Father; My Redeemer, restore my peace, joy, and happiness in the mighty name of Jesus.
15. Jehovah! Arise in your unlimited mercy and use this situation to show me how powerful you are, in the name of Jesus.
16. You devil sent from Hell to use my past, mistakes, and sins to torment me with depression and suicidal thoughts, die by fire in the name of Jesus.
17. Say this 21 times from the bottom of your heart: Prince of Peace, bring your real peace into my life.