EMOTIONAL ROLLER COASTERS

Emotions are like Roller Coasters... you go up, you go down and you scream!

This month we're holding discussions on "Overcoming Emotional Roller Coaster". Yesterday we began by look at how to overcome DEPRESSION. It's amazing how depression has grown from rarely ever being talked about publicly... to now it's talked about everywhere. There are so many variables to trigger depression in people. Man that makes it tough to be prepared.
Studies show that 1 out of 5 adults will face a major depression in the life.
Women are twice as likely to face a major case of depression.
Depression hits people off all ages and races.
Depression is one of the top reasons kids commit suicide.

How sad are those few facts!

I have to admit, I haven't personally gone through a depression state. I have had several major events in my life that easily could have helped get me severally depressed. I never slipped that low. (Thank God... really!!!!!) Yes, I have faced the blues... we all do. But depression is different. It's longer, darker, colder, and emotionally embarrassing for many to admit to.

Jeremiah, the OT prophet, was known as the "Weeping Prophet" by his people. That's a man with a serious depression problem to overcome. Yet, he did overcome it. He learnerd to be real and face it. Sadly it never really went away, not even after 40 years of serving God. I guess that's what gives me hope. I can look at a real life example of a man 100% sold out to God, laughed at by many people, depressed and deeply hurt... yet he fulfilled his calling by God! He stayed in the real work, walked the streets of his city, faced the people and even survived prison. HOW?

He was real with God and others. He believed that God was bigger, stronger than even his depression. His heart was pumping compassion and love... even as his words rang out "doom and gloom". Yes, medicine can and does help people with depression. But the real medicine can only come from God and Godly people committed to helping others overcome the ugly, out of control emotional roller coaster called depression.

I pray, when depression hits me... I can be like Jeremiah and overcome because I know "Jesus has overcome the world".