Strength Over Darkness, Depression or Despair

There might be times in our lives when we find ourselves under a dark cloud of depression or despair. It is a difficult place to be and can be extremely overwhelming. How can we overcome that darkness and return to the light?

First, we must remember that our battle is against the forces of darkness. Only Satan is the author of such feelings of heaviness, discouragement and loss of hope. As we read in John 10:10, The enemy seeks to "steal, kill and destroy". The darkness doesn't want us to have the victory we are promised.

‭Apostle Paul teaches us in Ephesians 6:12-13,
"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms."

Then Paul continues, in the next verse, with what we need to do to win this battle,

"Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand."

But what if we feel too weak or beaten down to have the strength or mental capacity to put on the armor? Then we need to FIRST, change our focus from the overwhelming darkness to the overcoming LIGHT, who is Jesus Christ, our Lord.

Jesus tells us in ‭John 8:12,
“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

To follow that light, we can simply open up the Scriptures and read the word of God. The book of Psalms is filled with wonderful words of joy, hope, strength and encouragement. Christ, the light of the world, is in every word from Genesis to Revelation. We read in Revelation 19:13, "He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God."

Next, we must place our TRUST in the Lord to lift us up out of the darkness, to give us strength and to protect us. The Lord reassures us in Isaiah 41:10, "Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand."

David wrote in Psalms 42:5,
"Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God."

And we read in Isaiah 40:31,
“Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles, they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.’

In addition to focusing on the light and placing our trust in the Lord, we need to choose to have JOY. We read in Nehemiah 8:10, "The JOY of the Lord is your strength." What is that "joy of the Lord"? It is the joy we possess in knowing that, in Christ, we are overcomers and we are victorious! We read in ‭1 John 4:4,

"You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world." That is where we can draw joy and strength with confidence!

Next, we need to be THANKFUL. Being thankful moves our focus from the darkness to the gifts, grace and goodness of God.

‭David writes in Psalms 107:15-16,

"Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind, for he breaks down gates of bronze and cuts through bars of iron."

Thankfulness turns around our whole mindset to the positive. It directs our mind towards the Lord, reminding us of all He provides and has provided. And reminds us that He is our solution, our rescuer, our Rock, our salvation, and our victory.

Lastly, we must PRAY when darkness is attempting to overtake us. David continues in ‭Psalms 107:19-20,

"they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress. He sent out his word and healed them; he rescued them from the grave."

So when we find ourselves under a dark cloud of depression or despair, let us keep fighting the good fight and not give up. Reach for the word of God, trust in the Lord, choose joy, find things to be thankful for and send up prayers. Fight through the darkness to reach the Light, our Savior Jesus Christ, who promises to always strengthen us and lift us up with His victorious right hand.
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