Hope for the Depressed Woman: Week 3 – Medication or Meditation
Welcome to Week 3 of Hope for the Depressed Woman. If you missed the first two posts of this series you can view them here – Week 1: Slow Down and Week 2: Breaking the Silence. Throughout this series I am sharing my personal experience with depression and the things I learned along the way. I don’t share this to glorify myself or to give medical or physical advice (I’m not a doctor or counselor), but I share from a deep place of my heart that once ached with feelings that I could not understand. God has freed me from depression and I hope sharing my personal experience will encourage you if you have struggled in this area of life.
HOPE FOR THE DEPRESSED WOMAN: WEEK 3 – MEDICATION or MEDITATION
I picked up the phone and made the call. I never thought I would be going to a doctor’s appointment to discuss my feelings.
My head pounded in rhythm with my heart as I waited for the doctor to enter the room. The white paper crunched as I tried to get comfortable and think through what I would say when the doctor asked me what was wrong. I could not come up with the words and I did not have an explanation. All I knew is that I was not myself and I had not felt normal for quite some time.
I left the office that day with a prescription and a desperate hope to feel better. After a couple weeks, life seemed a bit clearer. My head was not so foggy and I got through several days in a row without crying. After a short time, I was able to set the medication aside and continue my “normal” life.
I know there are many who oppose using medication for depression. The depression we are discussing in this series is not discouragement or the results of a bad week. It’s much more than that. It’s an ongoing physical issue that can’t be snapped out of overnight. Please do not misinterpret the message and the heart behind it.
There are absolutely proven physical causes for depression. I am not a doctor so I will not try to list the problems and the solutions, but I will lovingly encourage anyone who is dealing with an ongoing problem to seek a medical opinion.
The other thing I would highly encourage someone who thinks they are depressed to do is find a spiritual encourager to feed them verses of comfort and hope. If you are depressed, distressed or discouraged, God’s Word is a living, powerful comforter, healer, soother, lifter, enlightener and lover of your precious soul.
While I was going through some very dark days, there are some verses that God continually gave me that I want to share with you. I hope you can take one or two of these and make them your own precious promises for a better tomorrow or pass them on to a friend who needs a lift.
But you, O LORD, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head. Psalm 3:3(ESV)
From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I. Psalm 61:2(KJV)
When I remember You on my bed, I meditate on You in the night watches,
For You have been my help, and in the shadow of Your wings I sing for joy.
My soul clings to You; your right hand upholds me. Psalm 63:6-8(NASB)
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Psalm 46:1(ESV)
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. Romans 15:13(ESV)
You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:13(NASB)
O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me. Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off. Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether. Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it. Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me. If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me. Psalm 139:1-10(KJV)
If you have a verse that God has given you during a dark season of life, please share it in the comments below to encourage someone else who might be struggling.
If you think you might be depressed and have wondered if you need medical advice, it’s okay. Many people have legitimate physical reasons for the way they are feeling. Get the help you need.
Medication or Meditation? I can’t answer for you, but I know someone who can.
Love and Blessings,
Micah
If this has been a blessing to you or you know someone who could use the encouragement, PASS IT ON! And don’t forget to share your encouraging verses!
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