By Steve Carr

I. What is Depression?

Depression is a feeling of sadness, despair, and hopelessness. When a person is depressed he or she believes there is little meaning or purpose to life. If these thoughts continue a person may eventually not want to continue with life, and may consider suicide. This drastic consideration is the result of a person believing that there is no way out of the circumstance or dilemma that is being encountered. This attitude of hopelessness encourages a person to then fail to take the appropriate actions that would solve the problem causing the depression.

II. What Causes Depression?

A. Anything can cause depression! Some things that could cause depression would be: disappointment, an unresolved conflict with an individual, anger toward God, unbelief, guilt, falling behind in any responsibility.

B. However, these problems, conflicts, or adverse circumstances are not "in themselves" the cause of depression. If just adversity or problems were the cause of depression, we would all be depressed everyday. Yet the Bible promises us that we are to have peace, joy, and victory in the midst of adversity and trials. Jesus said, "These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulations, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." (John 16:33) (1 Peter 1:6-8)

C. Consequently, the cause of depression is the way you handle adversity, disappointment, and conflicts. This truth is evident from the teaching of the Scripture above. God wants you to have peace in the midst of your trials. Therefore, what is the wrong way to handle adversity? You must examine your attitude, thoughts, and actions in the light of Scripture and determine if you are walking in faith, in love, and obedience. If you are not, then your conscience will begin to bother you and depression results. Why does your conscience have this effect upon you? Scripture teaches that the mechanism of the conscience is to either "approve" or "accuse" you (Romans 2:15) (John 13:17) (James 1:25). If your conscience approves your actions and attitudes, you will feel great. If your conscience accuses you, depression results.

D. Here are some Biblical examples.

1. In Gen. 4:1-9 when Cain’s offering was not accepted by the Lord he became angry at God and his brother Abel. Cain rejected God’s counsel to him which was, "if you do the right thing you will be accepted." The Hebrew word for accepted means; to be elated or cheerful. Therefore, he is told that if he would simply take the right action, he would feel cheerful. However, he rejected God